Abstract
M.Com. (Transport Economics)
In the past, air freight was generally a by-product of passenger orientated airlines in the
sense that excess payload and unsold passenger seats were sold as air cargo space. In
recent years, this trend has changed and it is observed that the air freight industry is
increasingly becoming an industry in itself. The individual market share of scheduled international air freight operations within the air transport industry is currently approximately 35,8%. In South Africa, compared to the rest of the world, the historical development of air freight has been slower and confined primarily to the one national carrier (South African Airways (SAA)).
The purpose of this study is, to firstly, determine the potential for growth in the air freight market within and outside South Africa. Secondly, to isolate and describe the factors within SAA which are sub-optimal and therefore have a negative impact on the development of the full potential of the air freight services of the carrier.
The overall conclusion of the study is that the market for air freight within and outside
of South Africa can be expanded significantly. This conclusion is dependent on the
positioning and equipping of the freight division of SAA independently from passenger
services, together with the provision of specialist knowledge and systems required for
effective air freight management.