Prime ground handling service provider, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), has won the keenly contested handling contract of Qatar Airways, for another five years.
An added boost was the signing of a new contract with AZMAN Air on its international route, in addition to the previously held contracts for Azman’s domestic operations. Azman was recently granted approval to commence international operations with its newly acquired A340-600 series.
These recent developments are pointers to NAHCO’s leadership position in the nation’s ground handling business.
The newly renewed contracts will see NAHCO provide passenger, cargo and ground handling services to Qatar Airways and Azman Air. The services will also include the provision of crew transportation and other ancillary services to the airlines .
NAHCO’s Group Executive Director, Business Development and Commercial, Prince Saheed Lasisi described the development as a boost, adding that NAHCO will continue to deliver optimum service to the two airlines.
‘’With the new contract (Qatar), which runs for five years and coupled with the additional frequencies of Qatar flights to Nigeria and Ghana, we are glad to go even further to provide the top -notched services for which we are known and have offered the airline for the past nine years. Also, the recent addition of more Ground Support Equipment, GSE, especially the brand-new dollies, Qatar Airways and our other clients will experience the best available handling service’’, Prince Lasisi said.
In another development, Group Managing Director of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Mrs. Olatokunbo Fagbemi, has expressed NAHCO’s readiness to work with the National Trade Facilitation Committee of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to improve the nation’s capacity for export. She made the statement during a visit of the Committee on an inspection tour of the Company’s facility.
The committee, led by its Chairman, who is also a Director at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar, had earlier been briefed by NAHCO’S team on the Company’s activities and processes. NAHCO’s Cargo Services Manager, Mr. Femi Fasuyi had taken the committee members which included representatives of NAFDAC, NITDA, NEPC, NDLEA, FRSC, FAAN and of course the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through a power point presentation on all that needed to be known about NAHCO.
The Committee Chairman and leader of the delegation, Aliyu Abubakar urged NAHCO to continue on the path of boosting export with the creation of additional cold rooms and storage facility for agricultural- products.
NAHCO Plc is a Nigerian diversified enterprise with interests in aviation cargo, aircraft handling, passenger facilitation, crew transportation and aviation training.
The company currently serves several airlines across the major functional airports within Nigeria, and handles the largest chunk of domestic, foreign and cargo airlines.
In 2005, NAHCO was privatized and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2006. The Company is now owned by over 80, 000 shareholders, as well as local and institutional investors.