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Nigeria
invites bids for new National Airline
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Saudi
Airlines on an expansion drive of South Africa business
Saudi
Arabian Airlines has launched a concerted marketing drive
to expand its share of South Africa business. According to
an official at Saudi Airlines, cargo volumes have grown by
30-40% since the launch of a bi-weekly service seven years
ago. The airline deploys a Boeing 777 with 15-20 ton capacity
on the route, operating on Saturdays and Mondays.
Growing
traffic between South Africa and Saudi Arabia is a strong
focus, particularly in view of strengthening trade relations
between the two countries. The airline has also responded
to calls for dedicated freighters, a recent example being
the transport of ostriches for the establishment of ostrich
farms in the Middle East.
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A
new era in the South African Aviation Logistics industry has
emerged, with the launch of Equity Aviation Services (Pty)
Ltd, the former state owned logistics business previously
known as Apron Services (Pty) Ltd. The new shareholders are
also taking the opportunity to announce a new livery, branding,
service offering, and acquisitions.
Apron
Services was privatised in November 2002, when Government
announced that they had sold a controlling stake in the company
to Equity Aviation (Pty) Ltd. Equity Aviation is a 50/50 joint
venture between empowerment company Equity Alliance (Pty)
Ltd, and UK based facilities management giant Serco Group
Plc.
Today,
Equity Aviation Services is the largest provider of aviation
logistics services in
South
Africa, handling some 600 flights a day at 6 major airports,
with some 2000 staff, and in excess of 2000 pieces of specialised
aviation equipment. At over 18000 flight handlings per month,
Equity Aviation Services is clearly the largest single provider
of aviation logistics services in Africa! In its bouquet of
services, Equity offers the following:-Aircraft Loading &
Unloading, Pushback & Towing, Ground Power Supply, Air
Start Units, Cargo & Mail Handling, Bussing, Crew Transport,
Baggage Handling, Disabled Passenger Services.
Since
privatisation, the new shareholders have taken control of
the business under the direction of its Executive Chairman,
Adv. Trevor Hyman. Following a thorough Review of the business
a Performance Improvement Plan was implemented, as part of
a
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comprehensive
restructuring of the business, processes, and services. This
included a complete overhaul of the Training Plan, which was
re-launched earlier this year as a module focussed deliverable.
Today Equity is training third party clients in Customer Service,
Dangerous Goods Handling, and Airside Safety.
As
part of the launch of Equity Aviation Services, the company
gets a new logo, new colour scheme, new uniforms, and livery.
Staff response may be summed up in the words of one supervisor,
"We have waited many years for this day. Now we can stand
on the apron with pride!"
Executive
Chairman Hyman also used the launch to announce Equity’s move
into new areas of service. He says, "When we acquired
Apron last year, we promised the market
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