June 29, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance), West Africa’s largest ground-handling service provider, has again emerged as the preferred handler for two of the world’s leading airlines, Lufthansa and Royal Air Maroc.
Riding on the back of exceptional service delivery by the company, the two airlines have respectively signed contracts with NAHCO for the next five years in each case.
The contract with Lufthansa, a leading European carrier, will run from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2029,
The contract with Royal Air Maroc is a comprehensive one; for both Lagos and Abuja destinations. The Royal Air Maroc – LOS will run for five years from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2029. For the Abuja contract, a new location for the Airline, the contract runs from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2029.
Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Prince Saheed Lasisi, said the new contracts were coming at a time when NAHCO is massively increasing its capacity with the recent purchase of new ground support equipment.
“Lufthansa and Royal Air Maroc have made the right decision in staying with NAHCO, evidently the largest handling provider in the country. We just took delivery of billions of naira worth of equipment which would be deployed to service these valued partners. It is a thrilling development,” Prince Lasisi.
The Group Managing Director/CEO, NAHCO Plc, Mr. Indranil Gupta, who also expressed his delight with the new contracts, said they were great partnerships at work.
While assuring the airlines of exceptional service delivery, Gupta said: “We are always happy to serve clients who depend on us to further grow their businesses. We will always go the extra mile to ensure that we support them to keep their promises to their clients to offer the best service.”
The NAHCO CEO pointed out that the company has been doing a lot in the area of manpower development and equipment purchase in order to be able to give incomparable service.
The company recently announced the deployment of several new equipment to some of its stations. The deployed equipment comprised several units of pushbacks, ground power units, aircraft cooling units, aircraft air start units, tractors, reach trucks, forklifts, cargo and baggage carts, and pallet dollies.
According to the company, the deployment would be the first in a series of massive equipment replacements embarked upon by the company, which has set for itself an ambitious target of excess GSE in two years.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) is West Africa’s largest ground-handling service provider, with presence in all the major Nigerian airports.
It was founded in December 1979 by the Federal Government, through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in collaboration with four international airlines: Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa and Sabena.
NAHCO is now a publicly quoted company listed on the NGX. The Company has since grown into a multi-billion naira institution with diversified investments in energy, logistics, a Free Trade Zone Company, airport management, travel & hospitality and food & beverage export.
It currently has three institutional investors holding more than 5% of the total shares of the company as of December 31, 2023. These major investors are Godsmart Nigeria Limited – 26.95%; White Cowries Industries Limited – 9.16% and Awhua Resources Limited – 7.13%. NAHCO grossed a revenue of N28.4bn in FY 2023.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
