The South African air freight market has shown consistent year-on-year growth with an above-average upswing following the pandemic years. Now, in a trade environment driven by high-value, time-sensitive goods, the performance of air cargo hubs is not just crucial for the state of the logistics industry but, more broadly speaking, it is a strategic growth lever with great potential to shape national competitiveness.
Commenting on this is Nelson Teixeira, managing director of Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa at FedEx:
“The rapid expansion of the e-commerce sector, the rise in cross-border trade, and growing demand for South African exports are key market indicators that necessitate a closer look at how air cargo operations can be used to gain a competitive advantage.”
Risks to global competitiveness
Although the market has seen consistent growth, there are a number of opportunities for further expansion. A recent study conducted for the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg surveyed 120 stakeholders at major South African airports, including cargo operators, airport officials, and policymakers, to analyse the impact of infrastructure quality and technological implementation on cargo processing delays.
The study found that improved infrastructural quality and higher levels of technology adoption can play a significant role in preventing cargo delays.
Infrastructural bottlenecks can negatively affect consumer confidence and the perception of the sector globally. Apart from this reputational risk, there is also the factor of competitiveness to consider. When South African air cargo hubs fail to demonstrate their reliability, the chance that trade partners could shift to competing hubs (such as Dubai or Nairobi) is far greater.
“These findings prove how important it is for industry stakeholders to work together on using air freight as part of a national strategy to revive trade,” said Teixeria
“In its 2025 Airfreight Strategy, local government recognised the key role that aviation plays in international trade, transporting goods that may not be high in volume but account for a significant portion of trade value. This is a call to action for us all.”
The real rewards of industry investment
Seeing the improvement of South Africa’s air freight capabilities as a strategic imperative finds particular relevance in sectors such as agriculture, which relies on the timeous delivery of perishable food. For example, the export of fresh fruit from trade hubs like the Western Cape depend on reliable cold-chain logistics. The same can be said of the export of flowers.
It’s also crucial in terms of the delivery of pharmaceuticals. In times of emergency or crisis, the reliability of a country’s air cargo hubs has a direct impact on its responsiveness.
Furthermore, reducing cargo dwell time, warehouse flow, and aircraft turnaround could significantly lower the cost of storage, labour, and equipment, which could in turn reduce congestion and improve other important metrics such as productivity.
Currently, South Africa’s three international airports have shown strong recovery following the challenging global economic climate, with Cape Town International, OR Tambo, and Durban’s King Shaka all opening up new connections, as reported by Airports Company South Africa.
With the right level of infrastructural development, technological implementation, and economic investment, South Africa has the potential to become the continent’s leader in air freight logistics, serving as a gateway to the rest of the African continent.
“We’ve seen first-hand how efficient air freight systems can enable local businesses to scale, open up access to new markets, and allow businesses to compete for global market share,” said Teixeira. “The long-term benefits are better supply chain resilience; particularly in times of economic uncertainty, as well as an improved ability to attract foreign investment.”