Pretoria - OR Tambo International Airport is well positioned as a logistics and distribution hub for air cargo, says Airport General Manager Bongiwe Pityi.
“A combination of sufficient cargo capacity, strategic location, high levels of connectivity, accessibility to major routes and world-class infrastructure position OR Tambo International as a cargo and logistics super site,” she said.
Pityi was speaking as the country prepares to host the three-day Air Cargo Africa 2015 event, which starts on Wednesday at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg.
Air Cargo Africa 2015 is a platform for air cargo players from all over the world to assess the trade and investment opportunities that Africa has to offer.
This is the third Biennial International Air Cargo event organised to showcase Africa’s air cargo potential on a global scale.
In its past two editions held in Nairobi and Johannesburg, the exhibition has seen participation from major airlines and airports, especially from Africa.
The second edition of Air Cargo Africa, held for the first time in South Africa in 2013, gathered a record 413 global industry decision makers as registered delegates.
The event lured an impressive 2865 visitors from 27 countries across Africa and 24 countries from other continents to explore business prospects.
She said OR Tambo International Cargo Division’s vision is to attract more air cargo traffic to maintain and grow its status as the logistics and distribution hub for sub-equatorial Africa.
The airport is also the biggest cargo airport in Africa with freight estimated at over 400 000 tonnes per annum.
Major expansion projects have increased the annual passenger handling capacity at OR Tambo International from 6.5 million in 1993 to a current 28 million.
The award-winning airport currently processes over 18 million passengers annually. A recent Airbus forecast predicts that by 2032, OR Tambo International Airport will be Africa’s only mega city airport handling more than 50 000 daily long-haul passenger flights – all carrying cargo in their holds.
OR Tambo is Africa’s busiest airport and is a vital gateway for regional and international air cargo. In 2014, it handled approximately 390 000 tons of air cargo, while a total of 18 million passengers passed through the airport.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is positioning its various airports as international cargo carriers’ preferred partners on the African continent based on its reputation for safety and efficiency in the provision of world-class cargo management services. - SAnews.gov.za
