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) has just hit hard. The company currently has the largest network of airport services in Africa, BidAir Services. The completion of the acquisition is subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, including from the South African Airports Corporation (ACSA), which manages South African airports.
Indeed, Kuwait's NAS, Colossal Africa and a consortium composed of the current management team signed an agreement on Monday, 26 April, to acquire the largest ground handling 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,” delighted Hassan El-Houry, the CEO 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