The Kuwaiti company, a specialist in ground handling, enters South Africa through the acquisition of the largest ground handling company. National Aviation Services (NAS) is mainly consolidating its growth in emerging markets.

National Aviation Services (NAS) just hit hard. The company currently has the largest network of airport services in Africa, BidAir Services. Completion of the acquisition is subject to certain regulatory approvals, including from the South African Airports Corporation (ACSA), which manages South African airports.
Indeed, the Kuwaiti NAS, Colossal Africa and a consortium composed of the current management team, signed an agreement on Monday, April 26, for the acquisition of the largest groundhandling company in South Africa, from the Bidvest group.

"NAS is the largest ground handler in Africa, and this acquisition will further strengthen our position in the continent's largest market. We will expand our footprint with a presence in more than 55 airports, managing more than 50 lounges, with more than 8,000 employees of 65 different nationalities, at the heart of our global network," said Hassan El-Houry, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the NAS Group.

BidAir Services provides, among other things, handling, control, loading operations, cleaning... services to more than 28 major airlines, in 9 South African airports. Its customers include international carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir.