Zurich, 27th November 2012 – Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground services, welcomes the announcement by the Etablissement de Gestion des Services Aéroportuaires d’Oran (EGSA Oran) Tender Commission to award Swissport Algeria with a 5-year ground handling licence for Oran International Airport Ahmed Ben Bella.
The award of the licence follows a comprehensive and rigorous open international tender process. Both Swissport and EGSA Oran are confident that the tender result will contribute positively to the general development of Oran International Airport Ahmed Ben Bella and its aviation sector, as well as its employees, airlines and passengers. The 5-year licence includes all ground handling services, including cargo handling, at Oran International Airport Ahmed Ben Bella, which is aiming to achieve a throughput of 2.5 million passengers a year with the new airport terminal that is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
Swissport, which has a reputation worldwide for high quality ground services and respectable business relations and practices, will now engage with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure a smooth and efficient start-up of operations in spring 2013. Swissport Algeria is committed to selecting, training and deploying qualified, motivated handling staff. An experienced management team, with initial support from Swissport Algiers, will be put in place shortly to ensure an efficient start-up preparation.
Juan Jose Andres Alvez, Swissport International’s Executive Vice President of Ground Handling for Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa, commented: “Being awarded with an additional ground handling licence in Algeria is an important milestone in Swissport’s geographical expansion in Africa. We are all excited about this tender award and Swissport Algeria’s expansion into western Algeria. We will spare no effort to ensure that the right people and resources are in place in time to fully meet the requirements and expectations of EGSA Oran, customer airlines and passengers.”
Mark Skinner, Senior Vice President of Ground Handling for Europe, commented: “As a distinguished provider of ground services, Swissport is committed to add value and support to Algeria’s aviation industry and the wider national economy. Alongside our existing operations in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Nigeria and Cameroon the award of the Oran licence will strengthen Swissport’s position in Africa. We look forward to furthering the development of our operations and expertise in this important and promising region.”
Swissport International Ltd. provides ground services for around 116 million passengers and 3.5 million tonnes of cargo a year (the latter using 105 warehouses with a total floor area of over 420,000 square metres) on behalf of some 650 client-companies in the aviation sector. With a workforce of around 39,000 personnel, Swissport is active at 195 stations in 38 countries on five continents, and generated consolidated operating revenue of approximately CHF 2.0 billion. www.swissport.com
