Air travel within Africa is forecast by Boeing to grow at 6.4 per cent per year over the next 20 years, a growth rate comparable to that of the world’s emerging economies. Increasing trade and commerce are fueling growth among the region’s airlines, and new airlines are emerging as the number of people who can afford to fly rises, which is also driving investment in airports and other infrastructure in the continent.

Geographical challenges and the lack of good roads and railways put ever greater emphasis on the importance of air transport to economic development.

Trade links with the Middle East and particularly China are growing rapidly and this is attracting the interest of major cargo carriers. “Passenger traffic will grow faster here than the world average,” according to Airbus, with more tourism being a key factor, but freight-producing activities such as mineral development, oil and gas exploration, construction and agriculture are driving strong cargo growth.

Airbus forecasts that air freight FTKs will grow at an average annual global rate of six per cent over 20 years, passenger traffic by only 4.8 per cent. The value of these cargo shipments will increase even more because of the growing proportion of high-value timesensitive goods.

For a view into how this dynamic air cargo market is developing check out the April issue of Payload Asia for the full story.

For advertising in the April supplement, please contact Alvin Lim of Ten Alps Communications Asia at email: [email protected] or call him at +65 6780 4521 (GMT +8). For editorial coverage please contact Donald Urquhart at email: [email protected] or call him at +65 6780 4396 (GMT +8).