Kuwait’s NAS secures renewed contract to manage Aqaba Air Cargo Terminal

The airport services firm will maintain responsibility for ground operations, cargo handling, warehousing services, bonded storage, security facilities and ground equipment for 20 years

Hassan El-Houry, group chief executive of National Aviation Services, led the company’s expansion into Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Courtesy NAS

Kuwait's National Aviation Services has renewed its contract with Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation and Aqaba Airports Company to operate and manage Aqaba Air Cargo Terminal (AACT) for another 20 years, the airport services company said on Sunday.

The air cargo terminal at King Hussein International Airport was set up in 2004 and has been run by NAS since 2006. The company oversees ground operations, cargo and equipment handling, warehousing services, bonded storage and safety and security services at the facility. Its existing contract ended in March.

Under the new agreement, NAS will enhance the terminal's offering and introduce new air cargo initiatives, it said.

"In the last term, we fulfilled our commitment to the country by maintaining the highest levels of service with a strong focus on safety and security while investing into the development and operations of air cargo services," said Hassan El-Houry, group chief executive of NAS.

"This helped unlock Aqaba's air cargo potential and put Jordan on the global map for trade in line with the royal vision to transform Aqaba into a world-class business hub and leisure destination," added Mr El-Houry, who is also the co-author of Fly Africa, a book that looks at the future of aviation and its economic impact on the continent.

NAS, which has more than 8,000 employees, is present at 50 airports across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, handling seven of the world’s top 10 airlines and managing more than 50 airport lounges.

The company introduced an advanced system to manage every aspect of the air cargo business ranging from pricing, cargo operations and billing to supply chain management at AACT, NAS said.

It also invested in the modernisation of cargo services by automating processes and providing transparency and tracking services to customers, the company added.

"Jordan's economic environment is favourable to foreign investment. With NAS's investments into Jordan's aviation industry, we also remain committed to growing the country's economic prosperity in the coming years," said Mr El-Houry, who did not disclose the value of the 20-year agreement.

Last year, NAS completed the Regulated Agent third country validation process (RA3) for air cargo operations at Aqaba. This is a validation and certification process that ensures EU regulatory compliance for air cargo transportation into the bloc’s countries.