ECS invests in Africa West Cargo Airlines
General air freight sales agency European Cargo Services has made its first ever investment in an airline after acquiring shares in Africa West Cargo Airlines. Terms of the purchase have not been disclosed.
Africa West operates three 18-ton-capacity Antonov 12 freighters and has its own secure warehouse operation in Lome from where it operates scheduled cargo services to 14 destinations in West and Central Africa, offering some 160 tons of cargo capacity per week.
The airline feeds cargo into its regional network in Africa via two to three Boeing 747 freighter services a week from Ostend in Belgium to Lome. Africa West is looking to establish a second hub in Africa and to increase all-cargo frequencies to Lome from Europe to three and possibly four flights a week.
Last year, Africa West appointed ECS-subsidiary Globe Air Cargo as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in Germany and from the United States. The airline uses interline partners to move cargo from the United States to Europe. Globe Air Cargo also markets AN-12F charter services in Africa on behalf of Africa West to customers in the U.S.
Following ECS’s investment in the airline, Globe Air Cargo has now also taken over as Africa West’s cargo GSA in France.
“Alongside our established business relationships with Brussels Airlines, Air Senegal and Air Mauritania, this new agreement with Africa West completes our service offering to Africa,” said Guy Tordjman, president of ECS. “We see significant synergies between the airlines we represent to this important market. Our network will provide the scope and support Africa West needs, including from new markets such as Dubai where we have just opened an office and from where Africa West has now launched flights.
“Africa West provides us with the opportunity to develop a unique and innovative cargo concept in Africa, and this is why we have taken what we believe is a historic step for a GSA to invest in an airline to reinforce our partnership,” Tordjman said.