Swissport’s Africa move

SWISSPORT International has grabbed another slice of the expanding African cargo market.

The deal with low cost carrier Fastjet is to provide ground services across its network.

The carrier is set to be Africa’s first pan-continental low-cost carrier starting with Tanzania’s domestic market, connecting its Dar Es Salaam base to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza.

Fastjet chiefs say they want to expand its route network, flying the continent over the next few years.

Juan Jose Andres Alvez, Swissport’s executive vice president of ground handling for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, comments: “Swissport has a huge amount of experience in low cost carrier handling in Europe and we look forward to assisting Fastjet in building up this model in Africa, supported by our knowledge and processes.

“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.”

Fastjet chief executive officer Ed Winter adds: “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.”

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