Fly Airlink - Freedom of the African Sky

Day 5: Zambezi Queen
Today you will be transferred from the Royal Chundu River Lodge to the Botswana Border Post and onwards to the Zambezi Queen.

Cruise down the Chobe River in decadent style on the luxury houseboat, the Zambezi Queen, offering a unique, five-star luxury accommodation experience in the heart of the densest wildlife population on the African continent. This luxury 45m houseboat sails the Chobe River that divides Namibia’s Caprivi Strip from Botswana’s Chobe National Park.

Specifically designed to offer you opulent, modern comfort, this sleek houseboat has 14 private suites, outfitted in classic style with all the amenities you could dream of. Activities include water- and land-based game viewing, bird watching excursions, tiger-fishing and the option to visit exciting destinations in nearby countries such as the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls is superlative.

You will pass the days on the luxury Zambezi Queen enthralled by the abundance of wildlife in the region. The Chobe National Park is home to the largest grouping of elephants in the world, some 120,000 of them as well as Africa’s great predators, the lion and leopard. There are huge groups of buffalo and a diverse range of antelope and if you are lucky, you might spot the rare puku. Relax into the gentle rhythm of this luxury experience knowing that all of your needs are being taken care of from superlative dining experiences to guided fishing, birding and game viewing trips. No expense has been spared to ensure that this is the luxury African safari experience that you have dreamt of.

Day 7: Homeward bound
Today you will be transferred to Livingstone Airport to be in time for your onward flight (onward flight fares not included).

For more information contact:
Giltedge Travel
Tel: +27 (0)21 713 0296
Email: info@gilt-edge.com
www.giltedgeafrica.com

Air freight: Jetstream gets a make over

As featured and advertised in the August 2011 issue of Skyways, Airlink's inflight magazine

Passenger and freight no longer have to compete for space after the decision was made by SA Airlink to convert some of its fleet of Jetstream 4100 aircraft for the sole use of freight.

Some of the 13 aircrafts that have been flying passengers for the past 16 years will be converted as the passenger fleet is upgraded to larger aircraft to handle the increasing passenger volumes.

According to SA Airlink CEO Rodger Foster, the converted aircraft will place the airline in a prime position to actively grow its market share in the airfreight industry, where volumes are also expected to increase drastically in the next few years.

“We toyed with the concept already early in 2010,” Foster told Freight and Trade Weekly (FTW) “We recognised that our J41 fleet was not going to be able to handle our growing passenger service and that we needed to upgrade to bigger aircraft. At the same time, it made sense to then convert the J41s to handle our growing freight service as that would give us increased capacity.”

According to Foster, with the passenger service growing between 7 and 8% per annum, the amount of belly space available for freight was decreasing tremendously while the demand for freight capacity was simultaneously increasing. Passengers and freight were competing for the same payload. “We just reached the point where we could not carry anymore freight on our aircraft with the growing amount of passengers. The conversion of this fleet to freighters therefore makes sense,” he says.

With the first one set to become operational within the next few weeks, plans are already underway to start work on the conversion of the second. “There is no specific timeframe set to complete the conversion of all 13 Jetstreams,” said Foster. “As the demand for freighter aircraft gains momentum, we will withdraw Jetstreams from passenger services and commit them to the conversion and thereafter to their new life as dedicated freighters. We have operated these aircraft for 16 years and are confident in their capabilities. The conversion programme will happen over the next few years, but we hope to see at least three more converted and operational by the end of this year.”

According to Foster, the airline will still use its replacement passenger aircraft to carry belly freight. “Having done the feasibility and other studies, we have realised the value a dedicated freighter aircraft can make to our business, especially taking into account that our cargo business is probably growing more than our passenger business.”

Airlink Cargo is a leader in ground handling and cargo services, offering a range of solutions to cater for all cargo handling requirements. The nationwide presence and expertise of Airlink Cargo ensures that it is the obvious choice for superior results. The company processes over 70 international flights weekly at OR Tambo International Airport, and handles over 600 tons of cargo weekly through its customs-controlled warehouses. Airlink Cargo comprises of over 2,000m² of warehouse and office space at OR Tambo International Airport and operates additional handling facilities at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and numerous other airports in and around the southern African region. The warehouses conform to all relevant government regulations and are inspected regularly by the CAA, FAA and customs. According to Airlink Cargo managing director, Alwyn Rautenbach, the newly converted freighters will be used to move small express parcels for the courier industry. “We service the southern African market with overnight and daily express services and these aircraft willl no doubt strengthen our market position,” says Rautenbach. He also adds that, “no structural changes will be made to the aircraft so that it can always be converted back to a passenger aircraft should the need arise. The aircraft will have a three-ton capacity and will be used to move smaller cargo especially in the express and courier industry. We can fly any freight route domestically with our over border route growing all the time.”

According to Rautenbach, while the airfreight industry was severely affected by the 2009 global downturn and it took time to see volumes return, it is a fast-growing industry. “Most companies don’t hold the large number of stock they used to prior to the recession. The move has been to reduce stock level with the just-in-time principle coming into play, with more and more people relying on the express industry to rather deliver their stock faster,” he says. Combined with the dependability of airfreight, it is also becoming the option of choice for anyone moving high value cargo.

“Airfreight is a growing market in southern Africa,” said Rautenbach. “As industries continue to develop, so does the need for airfreight. With this freighter programme, we are in a position to address that need more efficiently than ever before.”

Flirting with disaster: Nothing halts the production of wine

As featured and advertised in the August 2011 issue of Skyways, Airlink's inflight magazine

The last time I visited the Orange River wine region I had to hot-foot it out of Kakamas to avoid being swept away by the torrent that was South Africa’s biggest river being in flood. I had just made it across the bridge before the river broke its banks, causing about R4bn worth of damage to vineyards and other farmland, bridges, roads, buildings and general infrastructure.

With countless job opportunities lost because farmers and businesses had to cut-back due to the devastation in January and February, it was surprising the area was not declared a disaster area, opening the door for a possible gesture of flood relief from national and Northern Cape government. No such gestures have been made, but the local agricultural community is still trying to mobilise some sort of assistance.

In the meantime, farmers are replanting orchards and vineyards, fixing road and trying their utmost to create a semblance of relief for the local workforce. Although the grape harvest was understandably down as the floods hit during the picking season, the Orange River show seemed to have gone on. Wine was made. And tasting the clean, pure fruit in the 2011 Chenin Blanc and Colombar I asked Rianco van Rooyen, winemaker at Keimoes, how they managed to produce such results under trying conditions.

“Logistics and planning,” says Rianco. “Your farmers have to find alternative routes to get to the farm as their farm roads are flooded. Some of the grapes were exposed to muddy water and had to be cleaned. But out here, in this region, we’ve learnt to expect the unexpected. And the fact that everyone remains positive helps – we will always find a way, no matter what nature throws at us.”

The Orange River Cellars white wines, just released, are fresh and enticing. The Chenin has a crisp, Granny Smith bite and a clean, bracing length. True to form the Colombar has a tad more rotund a mouthfeel and a slightly fuller fruit spectrum. Both are in line with Orange River’s mission of improving quality each year, while maintaining a position at the affordable side of the vinous spectrum. And with 80% of wines selling at under R35, it is the place to be. Neither flood nor hurricane will change this reality.