VENTURES AFRICA – Global aviation ground service provider, Swissport International Ltd., has signed a deal with Africa’s first low-cost carrier (LCC), to provide ground services throughout the airline’s network. Under the agreement, Swissport will also supply a variety of airport services, be responsible for service delivery and support supply chain growth throughout the Fastjet network.

Speaking on the new partnership, Executive Vice President of Ground Handling for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, Swissport, Juan Jose Andres Alvez, says “This partnership includes all of the logistics challenges involved in setting up a network of ground handling operations and management systems, representing a new type of relationship between service provider and airline and offering a great opportunity for Swissport to continue to build its network in Africa in partnership with fastjet.”

“Swissport has a huge amount of experience in LCC handling in Europe and we look forward to assisting fastjet in building up this model in Africa, supported by our knowledge and processes,” he said.

Swissport Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Gaudence Temu also collaborated that the local subsidiary of the multinational firm has the capacity to efficiently serve the new client.

“We are delighted that Fastjet has entrusted Swissport International with their ground handling management in Africa…as for us, Swissport Tanzania, we are looking forward to providing superior, demand driven ground handling services,” Temu said.

Fastjet’s Chief Executive Officer, Ed Winter, expressed confidence that “Swissport has a world-leading reputation and track record for providing high quality ground services to airlines around the world.”

“fastjet is creating a pan-continental African airline offering international standards of safety, quality, security and reliability and it is therefore essential for us to have a handling partner that gives these qualities top priority and one that also matches our ambitious growth plans for Africa,” Winters said,

With an active 195 stations in 38 countries on five continents, Swissport International provides ground services to about 116 million passengers annually.