African Airfreight Market Shows Signs of Recovery

The African airfreight market has faced challenges in recent years, but there are now signs of improvement. According to IATA, African carriers saw a cargo demand decline of 1.8% last year. This was due to inflation in Europe and a strong US dollar, which reduced consumer spending. However, the first three months of this year saw a 16.8% increase in demand. Sanjeev Gadhia of Astral Aviation notes e-commerce as a key driver, with significant improvements in South Africa and Nigeria. Dirk Goovaerts of Swissport International reports strong cargo volumes and infrastructure investments in regions like South Africa. Additionally, Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways are expanding their e-commerce logistics and freighter fleets, focusing on growth opportunities in the Middle East and Asia. Despite some challenges, the sector is optimistic about the future.