The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has evicted Menzies Aviation from the Hosea Kutako International Airport, paving the way for Paragon to take over ground handling services at the airport.
The announcement was made by the NAC’s chief executive officer, Bisey Uirab, who stated that Menzies had ceased providing ground handling services at the airport , effective from the 18th of August, 2023.
The eviction follows months of legal wrangling in which Menzies contested a High Court judgment authorising its eviction from the airport, over the awarding of the lucrative multimillion-dollar airport tender.
NAC Chief Executive Officer Bisey Uirab has appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with Paragon as the legitimate provider of ground handling services at the airport.
Following a prolonged court battle instituted by Menzies against NAC, the courts ruled against the company, and |Uirab says the eviction of Menzies from the airport in this manner was justified.
"We will continue to closely liaise with all stakeholders to ensure seamless provision of ground handling services at HKIA," said Uirab.
In a judgement delivered in the Windhoek High Court near the end of June last year and upheld by the Supreme Court on 9 June this year, the court authorised the deputy sheriff of the High Court to evict Menzies from the airport and from all premises occupied by the company at the airport.
Worth mentioning, in the year 2014, Menzies had entered an agreement with the NAC to provide ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport .
The initial agreement expired at the end of 2021, and new bids for the provision of ground handling services at the airport were invited by the NAC.
Desmond Amunyela, Paragon’s business development executive director, declared that the company is fully prepared to manage both cargo and hazardous goods.
“All necessary certifications are in place. We are endorsed by all customer airlines involved in cargo transportation to and from Namibia. However, customer airlines retain the autonomy to conduct their business as they see fit,” Amunyela said.
On the developments, Menzies Aviation said in ‘n media statement in terms of the Rent Ordinance applicable to the new lease agreement, Namibia Airports Company must give Menzies at least 12 months’ notice to vacate the Hosea Kutako International Airport. No such notice has been given by NAC.
Earlier, Uirab had released a statement, saying,
“Paragon’s commencement to perform ground handling services at HKIA heeds the Supreme Court’s assertion that Menzies relied on unlawful self-help to stay put and had, to date hereof, occupied the premises unlawfully for about a year.”
