Suid Cargo Airlines will begin non-scheduled flights from its hub at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport in the second quarter of 2023.

South Africa’s newest cargo airline will utilise a leased Boeing 727-200F from Kenya’s Astral Aviation, in addition to Astral’s Boeing 747-400F, Boeing 767 and Boeing 757F on a charter basis.

Suid Cargo Airlines’ accountable manager and CEO Thomas Honiball (pictured above right) said the company was planning to acquire additional freighters in 2024 which will comprise of narrowbody freighters such as the Airbus A320F or Boeing 737-800F, in addition to Embraer 190 freighters in 2025.

Astral Aviation’s CEO Sanjeev Gadhia (pictured above left) said: “We are honoured to support South Africa’s newest cargo airline, Suid Cargo Airlines, initially with our Boeing 727-200F and to offer our fleet of 747-400F, 767F and 757F on charter basis, which will enable the start-up cargo airline to scale its operations to cover southern, west and east Africa including Asia, Middle East and Europe.”

Suid Cargo Airlines will promote exports from South Africa in addition to transit shipments to over 20 African destinations, and will offer a sea-air cargo product from the Ports of Durban and Cape Town, “reducing transit time to the land locked regions in Africa”.

Suid Cargo said it would enter into long-term partnerships with freight forwarders, consolidators, integrators, e-commerce retailers and shipping lines in addition to interlining with African and foreign airlines to promote the Johannesburg Hub with plans to transition to scheduled services in 2024, which will include operating a domestic network.