The news follows shortly after the announcement that Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) will now be known as Skyway Aviation Handling Company Public Liability Company (SAHCO), after offering 49% of its shares to the public.
During the renewal of the contract with Arik Air at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, SAHCO Managing Director/CEO Basil Agboarumi promised to deliver quality and improved ground handling services to all its clientele across the nation’s airports.
SAHCO is anticipating the arrival of some new pieces of ground handling equipment in the next few weeks, he added, which is hoped to further improve the quality of services provided to its clients, including Arik Air.
Agboarumi said: “Today is unique for SAHCO. The Initial Public Offering (IPO) for SAHCO begins today (November 12) and we are signing this contract with Arik Air. Arik Air has been with SAHCO for several years and we have witnessed the growth of the company over the years.
“We are happy that the new management has established the airline on the right path. Arik Air is a good company to do business with. We are very proud to associate with the airline.”
He continued: “We have warehouses in Port Harcourt, Kano, Lagos and Abuja and we are ready to build warehouses wherever they are needed... If there is need for business expansion to any airport in the country, we will not hesitate to do that. Not just in Enugu, but across Nigeria. As long as business is expanding to those sides, you will see SAHCO there.”
Agboarumi added that SAHCO is the only ground handling company that operates in all commercially operated airports in Nigeria.
Murat Ozcan, Vice President, Ground Operations, Arik Air, also commented on the renewed agreement with SAHCO. “We have a very long-standing relationship with SAHCO and they have always been there for Arik Airlines. For the past five years, we have had a very great experience with them and I am happy to say that we have signed for another three years for SAHCO to provide ground handling assistance for our networks.
“It is a very happy day for us and we will be looking forward to work with them for the next three years as well as many more years to come.”
