ECS, one of the world's largest air cargo sales agent networks, has taken a controlling stake in Togo-based Africa West Cargo, according to the UK periodical International Freight Weekly.

The report said the ECS decision is the latest in a series of moves to take greater control of its destiny, rather than relying on the fluctuating bellyhold capacity of the airlines it represents and diminishing airfreight rates from Europe.

Adrien Thominet, ECS's vice president for sales and marketing, said the move was driven by two factors: a reduction in cargo capacity at one of ECS's key customers, Brussels Airlines (formerly SN Brussels), and by Africa West wanting strong financial backing to support expansion.

Mr Thominet said increased passenger load factors for Brussels Airlines had meant the carrier had insufficient cargo capacity to meet customer demand for Central and West Africa.

Africa West would supplement Brussels Airlines' capacity from Europe through thrice-weekly widebody freighters between Ostend and its Lome hub, flown by MK Airlines. Four AN-12 freighters on wet-lease to Africa West distribute from there, to key import destinations such as Pointe Noire, Port Harcourt, Malabo, Abidjan and Libreville, the report added.

Mr Thominet said ECS was looking at the possibility of owning other cargo airlines with flexible fleets to support other carriers it represented on a global basis.

One possibility was in the Caribbean, where some time ago ECS set up a partnership with a Colombian cargo airline to provide onward distribution from the Dominican Republic, on behalf of Corsair.
ECS, one of the world's largest air cargo sales agent networks, has taken a controlling stake in Togo-based Africa West Cargo, according to the UK periodical International Freight Weekly.

The report said the ECS decision is the latest in a series of moves to take greater control of its destiny, rather than relying on the fluctuating bellyhold capacity of the airlines it represents and diminishing airfreight rates from Europe.

Adrien Thominet, ECS's vice president for sales and marketing, said the move was driven by two factors: a reduction in cargo capacity at one of ECS's key customers, Brussels Airlines (formerly SN Brussels), and by Africa West wanting strong financial backing to support expansion.

Mr Thominet said increased passenger load factors for Brussels Airlines had meant the carrier had insufficient cargo capacity to meet customer demand for Central and West Africa.

Africa West would supplement Brussels Airlines' capacity from Europe through thrice-weekly widebody freighters between Ostend and its Lome hub, flown by MK Airlines. Four AN-12 freighters on wet-lease to Africa West distribute from there, to key import destinations such as Pointe Noire, Port Harcourt, Malabo, Abidjan and Libreville, the report added.

Mr Thominet said ECS was looking at the possibility of owning other cargo airlines with flexible fleets to support other carriers it represented on a global basis.

One possibility was in the Caribbean, where some time ago ECS set up a partnership with a Colombian cargo airline to provide onward distribution from the Dominican Republic, on behalf of Corsair.