Swissport Tanzania launched its new service station at the newly opened Songwe International Airport in Mbeya Region as the leading ground and cargo service company eyes to expand to other strategically located airports in the country.The Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, officiated at the launching ceremony that was also used to inaugurate operations of the firm at the Mtwara airport following the discovery of gas reserves and ongoing oil exploration activities in the country’s south eastern coastal regions.
“Launching of Swissport Tanzania branch at Songwe during this time of the year is not an accident but is part of our strategic plan to expand to other airports demonstrating growth potential,” the Swissport Tanzania, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gaudence Temu (pictured) told ‘Daily News’.
The launching ceremony at Songwe International Airport after Swissport Tanzania landed a deal to provide service at Songwe and Mtwara airports is part of the company’s expansion plan to strategically located airports, he said.
“Early this year our company acquired a concession to provide ground handling services at Songwe and Mtwara airports all of which are strategically located’ “While Songwe airport is expected to stimulate and open up the horticultural and tourism potential of the southern highlands, the importance and prominence of Mtwara airport follows the discovery of huge deposits of natural gas and ongoing oil exploration,” he said.
Mr Temu further said Swissport Tanzania had already signed a ground operating agreement with the new low cost African airline, Fastjet which is expected to start flying to Songwe International Airport beginning next week.
He said they were also in discussion with several other carriers who are interested in flying to Songwe such as Tropical air, Flight Link and ATCL. “So far at Mtwara airport we are handling several freighters and some domestic carriers have shown interest to operate there.
“Initially business is expected to be slow but we see big potential for growth and this is expected to benefit our company financially,” he said.
Swissport Tanzania was formerly a state owned ground handling service company before it was privatized as a subsidiary of the Swissport International, is the country’s largest provider of ground handling and cargo services to the aviation sector.
Source: Daily News, reported by Henry Lyimo, from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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