New Freighter Operation

Date: August 2011

Passenger and freight no longer have to compete for space with the decision by SA Airlink to convert some of its fleet of Jetstream 4100 aircraft for the sole use of freight.

Some of the 13 aircraft that have been flying passengers for the past 16 years will be converted as the passenger fleet is upgraded to larger aircraft to handle the increasing passenger volumes.

According to Rodger Foster, SA Airlink CEO, the converted aircraft will place the airline in a prime position to actively grow its market share in the airfreight industry, where volumes are also expected to increase drastically in the next few years.

“We toyed with the concept already early in 2010,” SA Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster, told FTW. “We recognised that our J41 fleet was not going to be able to handle our growing passenger service and that we needed to upgrade to bigger aircraft. At the same time it made sense to then convert the J41’s to handle our growing freight service as that would give us increased capacity.”
According to Foster; with the passenger service growing between 7 and 8% per annum, the amount of belly space available for freight was decreasing drastically whilst simultaneously the demand for freight capacity was also increasing. Passengers and Freight were competing for the same payload.
“We just reached the point where we could not carry anymore freight on our aircraft with the growing amount of passengers. The conversion of this fleet to freighters therefore makes sense.”

With the first one set to become operational within the next few weeks, plans are already underway to start work on the conversion of the second. “There is no specific timeframe set to complete the conversion of all thirteen Jetstreams,” said Foster. “As the demand for freighter aircraft gains momentum, we will withdraw Jetstreams from passenger services and commit them to the conversion and thereafter to their new life as dedicated freighters. We have operated these aircraft for 16 years and are confident in their capabilities. The conversion programme will happen over the next few years, but we hope to see at least three more converted and operational by the end of this year.”

According to Foster the airline will still use its replacement passenger aircraft to carry belly freight.

“Having done the feasibility and other studies we have realised the value a dedicated freighter aircraft can make to our business especially taking into account that our cargo business is probably growing more than our passenger business.”

Airlink Cargo is a leader in ground handling and cargo services, offering a range of solutions to cater for all cargo handling requirements. The nationwide presence and expertise of Airlink Cargo ensures that it is the obvious choice for superior results. The company processes over 70 international flights weekly at OR Tambo International Airport and handles over 600 tons of cargo weekly through its customs-controlled warehouses. Airlink Cargo comprises of over 2000m² of warehouse and office space at OR Tambo International Airport and operates additional handling facilities at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport; Cape Town International Airport and numerous other airports in and around the Southern African region. The warehouses conform to all relevant government regulations and are inspected regularly by the CAA, FAA and customs.

According to Airlink Cargo managing director, Alwyn Rautenbach, the newly converted freighters will be used to move small express parcels for the courier industry.

“We service the Southern African market with overnight and daily express services and these aircraft willl no doubt strenghten our market position.”
Rautenbach says no structural changes will be made to the aircraft so that it can always be converted back to a passenger aircraft if the need should arise.
“The aircraft will have a three-ton capacity and will be used to move smaller cargo especially in the express and courier industry. We can fly any freight route domestically with our over border route growing all the time.”
According to Rautenbach whilst the airfreight industry was severely affected by the 2009 global downturn and it took time to see volumes return, it is a fast-growing industry.

“Most companies don’t hold the large number of stock they used to prior to the recession. The move has been to reduce stock level with the just-in-time principle coming into play with more and more people relying on the express industry to rather deliver their stock faster.”

Combined with the dependability of airfreight it is also becoming the option of choice for anyone moving high value cargo.

“Airfreight is a growing market in southern Africa,” said Rautenbach. “As industries continue to de