Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has signed a partnership agreement with Transglobal Cargo Centre in Kenya to take over the full management, operation and business development of Transglobal’s ultra modern and fast-growing fresh produce and cargo terminal at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
With effect from June 1, 2014, Transglobal Cargo Centre operates under the Africa Flight Services (AFS) brand, the WFS division responsible for the development of a full range of handling activities across Africa. AFS stations are already operating in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam. WFS is the world’s largest cargo handler and operates at 120 major airports in 20 countries. It handles over 4 million tonnes of cargo per annum on behalf of some 300 airline customers globally.
The Transglobal Cargo Centre opened in 2007 and is Nairobi’s leading fresh produce and cargo handling facility. In 2013, it handled 52,500 tonnes of cargo on behalf of its airline customers, including Emirates SkyCargo, Lufthansa Cargo and Astral Aviation. Transglobal is a multi-purpose facility, the only one of its kind in Africa, which was designed and built to the highest specifications and requirements of a modern air cargo and freight operation.
Barry Nassberg, Group Chief Operating Officer at WFS, said: “We are delighted to be working with a professional partner in Transglobal, which is in line with our commitment to provide our airline clients with a worldwide network of expertise in handling services. Transglobal will also benefit from joining the WFS network in terms of being part of global customer agreements and having access to our operating and quality standards, and training. This is a far-reaching partnership that includes the development of new business as well as the management and operation of Transglobal’s existing business in Nairobi. The cargo terminal is an outstanding facility and with the capacity to handle over 200,000 tonnes a year, it offers great potential for growth at a time when the Kenyan economy is forecasting an annual GDP increase of 5.7% in 2014 following its healthy 4.7% growth in 2013.”
Historically, cargo volumes in Kenya have grown at around twice the rate of GDP growth. The current air cargo market size in Kenya is approximately 250,000 tonnes per annum, with export traffic accounting for over 75%.
In addition to providing best-in-class cargo handling at the airport, AFS will also launch ramp and passenger handling in Nairobi by the end of 2014. In support of this, AFS is initially investing in excess of $7 million in new equipment to handle narrow and wide-body passenger aircraft and wide-body freighters.
Tony Bunn, Commercial Director of Transglobal, added: “We have already created one of the region’s most professional cargo handling stations and in partnership with WFS we will now take this to the next level to support our existing and future customers. There is already considerable interest in AFS because it will offer a full ramp, passenger and cargo service and work to the highest international service standards. This is a new and exciting phase in our development.”
AFS will create over 150 new jobs at the airport this year to support its full service offering for airlines in Nairobi, doubling the size of Transglobal’s workforce at the airport.
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