Page 31 - LUA May June 2024 for Website

International Airlines Group (IAG), opened
its Constant Climate station in Cape Town
in 2023 for temperature-sensitive healthcare
products. Swissport, which handled roughly
4.7 million tonnes of air freight globally in
2023, has expanded its existing facility at
Nairobi's JKIA by adding a new 750 sqm
temperature-controlled storage unit. The
new room can hold a massive amount of
cargo equivalent to 3 Boeing 747 freighter
planes and offers different temperature
zones for various needs.
Further highlighting Menzies
Aviation’s expansion in Nairobi, Wyley
mentioned, "We have upgraded our
warehouse facility, with the capacity
of cold room space increasing from 80
pallet positions to 250. The warehouse
has also been given IATA CEIV Pharma
Certification in 2023, which is awarded
to companies in the air cargo supply
chain that demonstrate compliance
with the IATA Center of Excellence for
Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical
Logistics (CEIV Pharma) standards."
Kenya Airfreight Handling facility in Nairobi
Despite limitations in infrastructure,
high costs, and a lack of connectivity,
airline, inaugurated an e-commerce the African aviation industry has a clear
logistics facility at Bole International path forward with IATA’s Focus Africa, a
Airport with an investment of $55 collaborative initiative designed to propel
million, dedicated solely to e-commerce the industry towards a safe, secure, and
goods, mail, and courier logistics services. sustainable future. By pooling resources
Underscoring the shift, Wyley noted, from across the aviation value chain,
"We are seeing a strong trend towards Focus Africa tackles critical challenges
e-commerce entering the African market. through six key areas: building modern
A larger than ever proportion of the cargo and affordable infrastructure, boosting
we handle is e-commerce, meaning that If a certain skill set is safety through data-driven collaboration,
we have had a laser-like focus on ensuring not available already, connecting Africa via the Single African Air
that goods can move from aircraft to Transport Market, modernising financial
warehouse to forwarder as quickly and the companies are services, achieving "Net Zero by 2050"
efficiently as possible." forced to hire new emissions goals, and investing in a diverse
staff at an additional and talented workforce. This comprehensive
ENHANCING COLD CHAIN approach aims to unlock African aviation's
INFRASTRUCTURE cost, to manage the potential, ensuring its long-term success.
Another growing trend that demands equal systems. With the African Continental Free Trade
attention is the cold chain infrastructure. PAUL MWAKISHA Area (AfCFTA) expected to increase intra-
Africa, a major exporter of flowers and TRIPLE FFF African trade by 60% by 2030 according
perishables goods, is experiencing a surge in )KENYA AIRFREIGHT HANDLING( to the latest projections by the World
demand for robust cold chain infrastructure Bank, the demand for efficient and reliable
to support this sector. Investments in cold is the lack of a real cool chain product cargo ground handling services is set to
chain infrastructure are crucial to support across the whole logistics journey – we see continue growing rapidly. By addressing
Africa's agricultural exports, valued at that as an opportunity to be addressed.” challenges, investing in infrastructure and
$38.7 billion in 2022 according to the Food Airports like Nairobi's Jomo technology, and embracing innovative
and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Tom Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) solutions, the African air cargo industry
Alwynn-Jones, Managing Director, dnata and Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo have can unlock its full potential, enhance
Zanzibar underlines the same adding, established dedicated cold storage facilities global competitiveness, and contribute
“Time-limited options in the overall supply and temperature-controlled handling significantly to the continent's economic
chain hinder growth. The biggest challenge areas. IAG Cargo, the cargo division of development.

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