HARARE
–
Air
carrier
KLM
Royal
Dutch
Airlines
has
announced
plans
to
end
its
freight
operations
to
Harare,
beginning
this
April,
due
to
operational
challenges
associated
with
the
service.
This
emerged
in
a
notice
to
customers
by
Tiger
Freight’s
Managing
Director
Pim
de
Wit
who
was
quick
to
assure
customers
the
shipping
services
provider
was
exploring
measures
to
mitigate
the
looming
crisis.
“KLM’s
decision
to
reduce
their
African
freighter
operations
to
three
flights
weekly,
with
Harare
no
longer
included,
is
a
result
of
their
evolving
fleet
priorities
and
operational
efficiency
concerns,”
said
the
Tiger
Freight
boss.
Frequent
48-hour
delays,
cancellations,
and
rescheduling
have
impacted
Harare
flights,
according
to
Pim
de
Wit,
who
added
that
the
decision
to
cease
operations
by
KLM
Royal
Dutch
Airlines
“was
influenced
by
the
short
flight
leg,
lack
of
local
maintenance
facilities,
and
unstable
freight
volumes”.
“We
are
working
closely
with
Airflo
KE
to
ensure
alternative
routings,
where
capacity
remains
available
to
transport
your
goods,”
said
the
company.
These
include
collaborating
with
Ethiopian
Airlines
for
direct
connections
from
Harare
to
Addis
Ababa,
followed
by
freighter
flights
to
Europe.
FX
Logistics
has
secured
permits
for
cargo
handling
resources
in
Addis
Ababa.
“Middle
Eastern
Carriers:
Emirates
and
Qatar
Airlines
remain
viable
options
for
both
westbound
(Europe)
and
eastbound
(Asia)
freight,
although
please
note
that
westbound
rates
are
currently
higher
due
to
high
demand
from
e-commerce,”
said
the
company
manager,
who
added
that
options
were
available
to
route
Harare
cargo
via
Johannesburg,
although
this
may
result
in
additional
handling
times.
“We
remain
committed
to
providing
the
highest
level
of
service
during
this
transition
and
will
continue
to
work
on
identifying
the
most
efficient
and
reliable
alternatives.
Should
you
have
any
concerns
or
require
further
details,
please
do
not
hesitate
to
reach
out.
“Thank
you
for
your
understanding
and
continued
cooperation.
We
will
provide
further
updates
as
the
new,
solutions
are
put
in
place.”