The future of Africa's air cargo industry is a tale of two parallel narratives: immense potential weighed against persistent challenges. While the sector faces constraints such as trade barriers and geopolitical conflicts, industry leaders at the "How African Air Cargo Can Soar" conference proposed transformative solutions to unlock growth.
Fragmentation: The Key Obstacle
Racheal Ndegw, CEO of Swissport Kenya, identified fragmentation as the primary barrier to Africa's economic development. "African nations must consolidate resources to drive trade and growth more effectively," she emphasized. This integration, experts argue, would significantly enhance air cargo capacity while laying the foundation for sustainable expansion.
Collaboration as a Catalyst
Wilson Kwong from Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. offered a complementary perspective, urging enhanced export cooperation among African nations. "Effective integration of ideas and resources through partnership is crucial for competing globally and strengthening overall cargo capabilities," Kwong noted.
Geopolitical Headwinds
The industry faces ongoing challenges from regional instability. Peter Musola, Head of Commercial Cargo at Kenya Airways, highlighted how route diversions due to conflicts in Sudan and West Africa have extended flight times to Europe, increasing costs—particularly for perishable goods. Qatar Airways Cargo's Eric Wilson reinforced this concern, citing political instability as a major impediment to commercial growth.
Musola advocated for accelerated implementation of free trade zone agreements to help airlines expand market access. However, he warned that frozen airline funds present a "unique obstacle" threatening the sector's future unless resolved promptly.
Secondary Airports and Strategic Growth
Beyond manufacturing, Kemp identified secondary airports as pivotal to Africa's air cargo expansion. Strategic planning for network and capacity management will be essential to leverage these assets effectively.
Recent Tyler research data underscores Africa's remarkable economic potential, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Senegal leading the charge. These nations are actively investing in airport infrastructure, cold chain facilities, and policy reforms to liberalize trade and traffic rights.
Notably, air cargo trade flows between Africa and East Asia have grown nearly 7% annually over the past decade—among the fastest rates globally for major trade lanes—demonstrating the continent's untapped market potential.
While challenges remain substantial, industry consensus suggests that coordinated efforts in resource integration, policy alignment, and trade liberalization could propel Africa's air cargo sector toward unprecedented opportunities.