Open skies could open new doors for Menzies

As passenger traffic across Africa continues to increase, the aviation sector is poised for significant expansion. According to Airports Council International (ACI) World, passenger traffic on the continent is projected to reach 242 million passengers in 2024 (surpassing 2019 levels by six per cent) and 261 million passengers in 2025.

This sustained growth heralds substantial opportunities for all aviation industry stakeholders and ground handlers are no exception.

One company tapping into this potential for growth is Menzies Aviation. In 2022, it joined forces with National Aviation Services (NAS) to create the largest aviation services company in Africa. It currently has operations at 40 airports in 19 countries across the continent and is well positioned to accelerate growth.

“We know the potential for air travel in Africa is huge. It has 17 per cent of the world’s population yet only contributes about two per cent of total global travel,” Abdoulaye Cisse, Menzies Aviation’s head of Africa told African Aerospace.

“To capitalise on these opportunities there is broad recognition of the need to open African air transport through deregulation and enable consumers in the African region to take advantage of the opportunities that aviation provides.”

With the pandemic now in the past and Menzies well positioned to strengthen its position, Cisse noted the business is still impacted by various challenges. He cited, “the protectionism of national carriers, limited visa-free travel, a lack of investment in airport infrastructure, political instability and high taxes forcing up fees,” as hurdles that need to be overcome.

The skilled workforce shortage is another factor that needs to be addressed. “Attracting a new generation of people to our industry is also key, not only in Africa but around the world,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Menzies remains committed to working with local governments, customers and partners to support the aviation industry and the region’s economic growth. “Increasing our footprint is a priority for us and with operations in 19 out of the 54 countries in Africa, there are plenty of opportunities available.”

Cisse also highlighted that while air cargo operations saw a spike during the pandemic with products in the medical, perishables and e-commerce sectors filling the space, cargo tonne kilometres in Africa are currently down by 2.8 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels.

E-commerce does however remain a driver of growth for ground handling with Cisse emphasising the huge potential it has to transform the cargo landscape.

“E-commerce has really started to take off across some markets in Africa and although we are not seeing this translate into air cargo volumes on the continent just yet, it does hold significant potential,” he explained.

To enhance efficiency and safety across its operations, Menzies is embracing innovations in technology and automated services. “Across our business, we are embracing the power of digital processes to create efficiencies and ultimately deliver a better service for customers. We’re modernising our facilities and processes with a focus on automation and digitalisation,” he said, referencing the roll out of Menzies new MACH Menzies aviation cargo handling) management system.

“MACH represents a significant enhancement on our current cargo management system, boasting a modern user interface (UI) with easy-to-use navigation, making it exceptionally user friendly for all stakeholders. Its cloud-based architecture ensures accessibility from anywhere, anytime and on any device, providing real-time insights and data,” he said.

Further underpinning Menzies’ investment in Africa’s ground-handling sector, was its decision last year to join IATA’s Focus Africa initiative. “Joining the initiative is testament to our long-term commitment to the continent and our desire to collaborate with industry leaders to improve aviation safety, facilitate growth and contribute to Africa’s development journey,” he explained.

Concluding that Menzies is optimistic about the outlook for the market in Africa both in the short and long term, Cisse added: “As the first ground-services company to partner on this initiative, we are determined to use our position and expertise to raise the bar for aviation services across Africa, providing new technologies, equipment, training and certifications.”