The handler will support about 5,000 Virgin Australia flights per year from Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and Dunedin to six international destinations. Aerocare CEO, Glenn Rutherford, said the company would create up to 220 new jobs in New Zealand, invest more than A$1m in training and spend A$5m on specialist aircraft handling equipment.
“We are proud to announce that Aerocare has been successful in a competitive tender process to support Virgin Australia’s operations in New Zealand, which acknowledged us as best overall in safety, service and operational performance,” Rutherford said. “The New Zealand contract marks a further expansion of Aerocare’s long-standing partnership with Virgin Australia.”
Aerocare already handles Virgin Australia flights from 17 locations in Australia; this latest contract will see this number which will grow to 22 locations. Infrastructure-permitting, Aerocare has said it plans to introduce efficient, environmentally-friendly electric vehicles to the operation, where possible.
Rutherford continued of the staff expansion: “Aerocare has a long history of job creation, with our workforce having tripled from 1,000 to 3,000 in the last three years alone. People want to work at Aerocare because we provide interesting and secure work, first class training and some of the best career opportunities in the industry.”
Virgin Australia’s General Manager Ground Experience, Roger Lindeman, also commented on the deal: “Aerocare has been a partner of Virgin Australia since our very first flight,” he said, adding that Aerocare was chosen after a rigorous selection process. “Aerocare is the largest ground handler in the Australia and New Zealand region, and Virgin Australia chose them for their excellent service and safety record,” Lindeman concluded.
