The agreement will focus on the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) and the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) programmes as part of IATA’s work to make aviation in Africa safer, more efficient, sustainable and to provide greater economic benefits.
It was signed by Kamil Alawadhi, Regional Vice President Africa and the Middle East at IATA and Ahmed Al Hadabi, Group CEO of Terminal Holdings, the parent company of Afroport Mauritanie, which operates Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport.
Under the agreement, Afroport Mauritanie will promote the adoptions of IGOM by ground handling service providers, it will recognise ISAGO as an acceptable means of compliance for airport oversight activities and make ISAGO registration and station accreditation a condition of handlers operating at the airport and with IATA, it will monitor safety performance to identify opportunities for improving ground operations.
Alawadhi said: “Global standards, such as IGOM and ISAGO are the foundation for a safe aviation industry. The commitment of Afroport Mauritanie to IGOM and ISAGO will help further Mauritania’s social and economic development with safer ground operations. Lower adoption rates for global standards rank high among the factors limiting the benefits that aviation could deliver in Africa.”
Al Hadabi added: “Our goal in partnership is to support the development of a strong aviation sector with global standards and best practices at its heart. The agreement with IATA is a significant step towards achieving standardised, sustainable operations on the ground.”
