National Aviation Services (NAS), a Kuwait-based ground handling company, has reached a new milestone in its expansion with its first contract award in West Africa.

With the new contract, NAS has now expanded its operational network to 16 stations in nine countries.

Under the ten year contract, NAS will provide ground handling services at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan as a part of a public private partnership with the Government of Cote d’Ivoire.

The ground handling contract includes passenger services, ramp handling, cargo management and warehousing as well as other related airport services.

The official signing ceremony took place in Abidjan last week with Cote d’Ivoire representatives, Gaoussou Toure, Minister of Transport; Abdourahmane Cisse, Minister of Budget; Nialé Kaba, Minister of Economy and Finance; and Hassan El Houry, CEO, NAS.

Following the signing El Houry said: “The Government of Cote d’Ivoire places development of its transport sector at the heart of its economic growth. As the chosen ground handling partner, we can provide them with the operational expertise, security and reliability required by the Abidjan Airport to reclaim its position as the aviation hub for West Africa.”

The Abidjan airport currently handles close to 1.5 million passengers, 8,200 aircrafts and close to 20,000 tonnes of cargo. NAS Ivoire, led by newly appointed General Manager Olivier Berni will work through a six month transition period before taking over complete airport operations in mid-July. – TradeArabia News Service