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DP World joins in as Africa's logistics hot-spots attract the big players

The port of Luanda will struggle handling the larger vessels DP World is upping its Africa game, and it is not alone, with several terminal operators either having added or announced the addition of capacity into the continent amid surging volumes - the west coast proving "particularly hot" at the moment. Investing $90m into Angola's port of Luanda should be indicative of DP World's confidence in the gateway; CEO of its Africa operations, Mohammed Akoojee, told The Loadstar there was a lot of optimism in "Africa's long-term trade potential". He noted that "container volumes at our Luanda terminal have nearly doubled over the past five years, and the expansion will increase annual capacity from 500,000 to 1.2m teu", while also mitigating some of the congestion that has caught the headlines. Forwarders have been raving over West Africa, and Angola in particular, over the past two years, with the region seen as one of the bright spots. An executive at a multinational told The Loadstar they were not surprised, considering the demographics and cultural ties. And certainly the hype appears to have caught terminal operators' attention, with DP World's Luanda plans coming on the back of its announcement earlier this year to up its operations at Senegal's Dakar and at terminals in Mozambique, Tanzania, and the DRC. Nor is DP World alone in this, with MSC and its Terminal Investment Ltd having agreed a 45-year concession at Nigeria's Snake Island, while APMT pledged to put some $600m into its operations across Nigeria. Despite the optimism and confidence surrounding Africa's long-term prospects, Mr Akoojee said there was a balancing act needed when it came to committing to long-term investment, with "port capacity needing to be planned well ahead of demand". He said this meant any "decisions must reflect specific trade dynamics", necessitating an in-depth assessment of growth prospects and infrastructure requirements, and he added that "demand and capacity conditions, however, vary considerably across West and Central Africa". Nonetheless, Mr Akoojee said that, "with African trade expected to grow and shipping requirements evolving, continued investment in integrated port and logistics infrastructure will be essential". He added: "Infrastructure needs will vary by market; our focus remains on developing capacity, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening inland connectivity. DP World remains committed to working with partners to support the continent's economic development."

My Freighter continues fleet expansion with another Boeing 767

Fast-growing cargo airline My Freighter has continued the expansion of its fleet with the addition of another Boeing 767 aircraft. The Uzbekistan-based cargo airline said the 55-tonne 767-300 capacity aircraft (UK67023) will bring more flexibility and allow more options for imports and imports and exports through its Tashkent hub, as well as stronger connections between Asia and Europe. "Every aircraft we add strengthens our ability to connect Central Asia with the markets that matter to our customers and partners," the airline said. The aircraft is named after Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur, a native of Andijan, poet, statesman and founder of the Mughal Empire. According to Planespotters.net, the airline currently operates a fleet of 10 767 freighters. The Centrum Holding-owned carrier also has a Boeing 757 freighter. The carrier operates flights between Central Asia, Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe and North America. The airline has been increasing its operations between Asia and Europe and most recently added extra flights to Liege. Starting in July, the carrier upped flight frequencies to the Belgian hub to daily. Also, in March, Tashkent-hubbed My Freighter began operating new routes between Asia and Frankfurt Airport in Germany. And in January, My Freighter also announced it would add scheduled cargo flights from Hong Kong International Airport to Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands via its main hub at Tashkent. Interline partnerships, most recently with Air Canada and Singapore Airlines, are also helping My Freighter grow its network, while it has added a GSA partnerships with Group Concorde.

Texel Air Australasia adds 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter

Cargo airline Texel Air Australasia has added a 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) to support continued growth in New Zealand, where the company sees strong demand for freighter capacity. The aircraft, named Florence and registered ZK-TXH, will initially operate on charter services to connect New Zealand's main freight hubs with regional destinations and provide greater flexibility to move goods overseas. The delivery of Florence follows the arrival of Karen, Texel's second 737- 800BCF in New Zealand, in August. Texel's New Zealand-based fleet now comprises three aircraft, while the wider Australasian fleet comprises seven aircraft in total. The Texel Air Group said that with this delivery, it now operates 10 737-800BCFs globally and has 12 Boeing 737 aircraft in total, with five based in Bahrain and seven in Australasia. Texel Air founder and chairman John Chisholm said: "Having an additional aircraft based in New Zealand gives us greater flexibility to respond to the needs of businesses, whether that's moving time-sensitive freight, supporting specialist charter requirements or connecting communities and businesses that rely on air freight." The aircraft is the 200th 737-800BCF delivered worldwide and the milestone was celebrated at a special event at Auckland Airport attended by representatives from Boeing, BBAM, Auckland Airport, customers, suppliers, industry partners, plus members of the Texel Air Group team. Guests heard from Chisholm, who reflected on the company's growth and long-term commitment to the New Zealand market. A team of Boeing specialists converted the 737-800BCF at a Boeing facility by removing the interior, reinforcing the floors and installing a cargo loading system. A wide cargo door was installed to ease the loading and unloading of the aircraft. The conversion adds over 20 years to the aircraft's lifespan, said Boeing. "The 200th 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter is an important milestone, and we're pleased to celebrate it with long-standing partners, Texel Air," said Lindsey Douglas, vice president, cabin, modifications, maintenance and digital services at Boeing. "By growing its New Zealand-based Australasian fleet to seven 737-800BCFs, Texel Air is demonstrating the freighter's versatility and reliability in supporting expanding exports and trade across the region," she said. Texel Air Australasia was set up in 2023 by Bahrain-based Texel Air, which was established in 2013 by Chisholm Enterprises.