Air transport is becoming increasingly vital in Southern Africa’s time-sensitive logistics. From pharmaceuticals to electronics and high-value exports like flowers and seafood, air freight enables rapid transit across borders. Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International remains the regional air freight leader, but Lusaka, Harare, and Windhoek are rising in prominence.
Courier services like DHL, FedEx, and local players such as Skynet and Globeflight are expanding their regional networks. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for reliable medical logistics, catalyzing partnerships with NGOs and health ministries to deliver vaccines and equipment to remote locations via air cargo.
However, air freight faces steep costs and limited airport infrastructure in smaller cities. Building out cold chain capabilities, automated customs systems, and digital cargo manifests will be key to unlocking potential.
With the right investment and policy backing, air logistics could become a lifeline for SMEs and exporters across Southern Africa looking to compete in global markets.
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Insights May 13, 2025
Cross-Border Trucking
truck freight dominates Southern Africa’s logistics, carrying up to 80% of regional goods traffic. Popular corridors include Durban–Lusaka, Beira–Harare, and Walvis Bay–Gaborone. But truckers face serious challenges: roadblocks, bribery, border delays, and poor infrastructure. For instance, Beitbridge Border Post, between South Africa and Zimbabwe, is infamous for multi-day waits. However, modernization efforts through the Zimborders […]