Maximus Air Cargo, the UAE’s largest dedicated cargo aircraft operator, is setting its sights on Africa as a region  that represents great opportunity for future business growth.

The airline recently participated in Air Cargo Africa 2011, the 1st biennial international air cargo conference and expo at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, where it showcased its heavy lift capacity.

“With air traffic volumes into Africa set to grow at about 10 per cent, according to IATA, and with long reserves of resources and untapped investment opportunities, local markets in Africa hold strong profit potential,” said Fathi Hilal Buhazza, Maximus Air Cargo president and chief executive.

“The aviation sector in Africa has been steadily expanding over the last few years and the latest projections paint a positive picture for air transfer in Africa as a whole.”

Industry experts agreed at the deliberations, which stretched over three days, that the African continent has huge potential because of global demand and its good reputation for perishables, especially in Middle East.

“The UAE itself imports over 160 tonnes of perishables every week which is an indication of regional demand,” explained Buhazza.

“As a whole, Africa also has a potential for humanitarian relief flights including outsize charters like helicopters, armored vehicles, generators and water tanks, amidst others. There is high demand too for oil well and mining equipment cargo on board.

“Currently there is no capacity to move such quantity. Nairobi, in particular, currently exports 2,000 tons of perishables by air per week to Europe which includes cut flowers, fresh vegetables and fresh fish. Only one African country - Kenya - sells 82 per cent of her horticultural exports in EU countries which reflects African export trends. Although, players in this market include major international airlines which fly into Europe via the Middle East, there still continues to remain a need for capacity into Europe,” revealed Buhazza.

Maximus Air Cargo’s fleet, which focused on developing the ACMI lease to operators market, is a perfect air freight model for perishable cargo. The massive export of flowers from Ethiopia and Kenya to Europe provides the right opportunity for the cargo aircraft operator to provide profitable solutions for such routings, he said.

Maximus also bagged the runners-up award for the inaugural ‘International All Cargo Carrier of the Year in Africa’.

A part of Abu Dhabi Aviation Group and established in 2005, Maximus Air Cargo specialises in outsized cargo and ACMI leasing aircraft.

The first of Maximus Air Cargo's three new A300-600RF’s are set to join the fleet in the next few months.-TradeArabia News Service