News & Media

New ground handling services launched at key Afghan airports thanks to Ariana-NAS Afghan Airlines partnership

Afghanistan : Monday, August 24, 2015

State-of-the-art ground handling services will be provided by Ariana-NAS at Kandahar and Herat International Airports to serve carriers such as flydubai, Turkish Airlines and Ariana Afghan Airlines

24 August 2015 - Ariana-NAS, a joint venture between National Aviation Services (NAS) and Ariana Afghan Airlines, has launched ground handling services in Herat and Kandahar International Airports in Afghanistan, in a move that it is hoped will facilitate the integration of Afghanistan into the wider global economy.

Stephen Irwin, General Manager of NAS Afghanistan stated, "At NAS, we fully understand the opportunities and challenges of operating in emerging markets. Our commercial and operational expertise gives us the edge as an ideal partner in airports services worldwide, allowing us to operate at optimal financial and operational levels. Being a privately owned company affords NAS the very important advantage of being independent to offer partners the best in airport services."

He added: "Development of the aviation industry is crucial to the development of emerging economies such as Afghanistan, as air transport plays a key role in supporting national long-term economic growth. It provides direct benefits to users and wider commercial benefits by positively impacting growth and productivity."

The amalgamation, introduced in January 2015, has seen the introduction of state-of-the-art Ground Support Equipment (GSE), new vehicle procurement, and organized management restructuring and extensive staff training, with further infrastructural developments to follow. NAS has strong experience in providing world class ground handling services in over 16 airports in emerging markets across three continents, making them a strong partner to Ariana Afghan Airlines, Afghanistan's leading air carrier with over 60 years of aviation industry experience.

Ariana-NAS is committed to fostering capacity building initiatives to help empower all their employees through programs that target development of specific professional skills and business practices. The organization has invested heavily in hiring new employees, training and retraining current employees while focusing on recruitment of local talent.

About Ariana-NAS
The joint venture between National Aviation Services (NAS) and Ariana Afghan Airlines for the exclusive right for ten years to provide comprehensive airport ground handling services at Kabul, Kandahar and Herat International Airports in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

About Ariana Afghan Airlines
Founded in 1955, Ariana is Afghanistan's country's national carrier. The company has its main base at Kabul International Airport, from where it operates domestically, and also provides international connections. With over 60 years of experience in the aviation industry is the leading carrier in Afghanistan. Ariana has been the symbol of the very Afghan tradition and its world renowned hospitality.

About National Aviation Services (NAS)
National Aviation Services (NAS) is the fastest growing aviation services provider in emerging markets. From our initial operations in Kuwait in 2003, NAS has quickly transformed into a leading airports service provider with a presence across regions: the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The 6,000 capable, personable employees at the core of our worldwide network are committed to providing aviation services that we benchmark to the best in the world. NAS provides services to more than half of the world's top ten airlines. These carriers rely on us to work directly with passengers and behind the scenes to deliver the services that make a difference. Our portfolio of services includes Ramp and Passenger Services, Cargo Handling, Engineering Services and Line Maintenance, Airport Technologies, Fixed Base Operations, Terminal Management, Aviation Training Center, Travel Agency and the Pearl Assist product which includes lounges and meet and assist services across the company's network.

NAS prides itself in providing world class aviation solutions and is affiliated with leading industry organizations such as IGHC, GASA, ACI & EASA and follows practices of ISO, EMS & OHSAS. As one of the first ground handlers in the world to obtain the ISAGO certification, nothing is more illustrative of NAS' commitment to providing the leading global practices in aviation services.