Ready Mix...

“We have ambitious plans for Africa, as we believe our extensive knowledge and experience can be leveraged to establish solid services in many locations across the continent,” said Evgeny Shadov, chief commercial officer at MixJet.

Founded in 2009, MixJet offers a comprehensive range of services including ground handling, aircraft fuelling, permit acquisition, and aircraft charter.

“As a company we pride ourselves on being present even in the most remote areas at the corners of the globe,” said Shadov.

“In 2023, we proved to be a key player in the flight support arena by providing our operators with more than 61 million litres of Jet A1 fuel and serving a total of 8,000 flights across different continents.”

Africa is a key continent for the company, and while there are global challenges, Shadov said the African market has consistently proven to be lucrative and remains a focal point for industry growth.

“The majority of our flights to Africa are dedicated to cargo transport, with a particular emphasis on ground-handling services in Niger, Chad, and Mali,” he said.

The company, which has its headquarters in Dubai, also serves several prominent African airlines, including Uganda Airlines, Air Tanzania, Rwanda Air, and Safe Air.

“We also handle permit applications across Africa, covering a wide geographical range from east to west. This extensive network enables us to efficiently obtain the necessary permissions for our operations,” said Shadov.

“In terms of military aviation, we have served various military aircraft from different air forces and their cargo divisions flying to regions across Africa, particularly those involved in ‘Operations Barkhane’ in Mali, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Burkina Faso.

“However, due to recent shifts in African-French relations, there has been a significant decrease in military aviation business in Africa. Nevertheless, Niger is now becoming a key hub for the German coalition, and Chad remains important for France, while other regions remain relatively inactive.”

The company also provides support and assistance for aircraft carrying humanitarian cargo during times of floods and famine, including flights to Sudan, Mozambique, and Morocco.

In the business aviation sector, Shadov said he has ‘observed significant transformations’ in Africa.

“New companies are emerging, and operators are becoming more cost-conscious, while demand for luxury tourism and related travel is increasing,” he explained.

“The expansion of the internet and the competitive landscape have facilitated these shifts, enabling operators to easily locate suppliers, meet demand, and conduct proper market research to adapt to the growing interest.

“Events like AfBAA, which attract numerous executive charter operators seeking to expand their presence, exemplify this trend.”

As expected, the company does face some challenges in Africa, including connectivity. “Issues we experience include underdeveloped infrastructure, higher operational costs compared with other regions, monopolies affecting service quality, payment issues, and communication difficulties in remote areas,” Shadov explained.

However, Shadov said the company has strategic things in place to help overcome these issues.

Overall, the company has “ambitious plans” for Africa, including expanding its network of offices.

Shadov said: “In Q4, we are planning to open a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa, which will further enhance our presence and capabilities in the region. Additionally, we are planning a joint venture with a well-known Middle Eastern supplier to provide fuel in Burundi, marking another significant step in our African operations. 

“We are also very committed to sustainability and the implementation of environmentally-friendly practices, which we strive to continue. This dedication has been recognised globally, leading to our invitation to participate in COP28 in Dubai.

“In 2023, we launched the Green Horizon initiative, a comprehensive programme aimed at reducing our carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2030.”

He concluded: “Looking at the bigger picture, MixJet is gearing up for exciting developments beyond Africa as well. We are working on obtaining our Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and plan to charter our own fleet based in Dubai – but that’s another story!”