NAC puts foot down on Menzies
• Paragon works on returning normalcy at HKIA
The British aviation services firm has once more approached the courts to throw it a lifeline, enabling it to provide ground-handling services in Namibia.
There was a hive of activity at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on Saturday morning after the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) forcefully evicted Menzies Aviation from the premises, after a protracted dispute over the mandate to offer ground-handling services.
Menzies employees got the shock of their lives when they were told to drop whatever they were doing and vacate the facility, despite their employer seeking relief in court over the matter.
The eviction resulted in a chaotic few hours and left the new ground-handling service provider, Paragon Investment Holdings, with little time for a smooth transition.
The staff of the new ground-handler could be seen running helter-skelter to ensure that travellers were attended to.
Long queues snaked from every ticket desk and the entire building vibrated with noise, while a sense of uncertainty was on display on the faces of hundreds of travellers.
Paragon has, however, maintained that it has managed to execute its new mandate without faults despite the time constraints so far, further indicating that it is fully capacitated to provide ground-handling services.
In limbo
The situation also left airlines in limbo, with some flights diverted to South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
The airlines serviced at the airport include Eurowings, TAAG, Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Namibia, South African Airways and Airlink.
Eurowings Discover’s two flights scheduled for Windhoek diverted to Johannesburg as well as Qatar’s Windhoek-Doha flight.
Eurowings Discover also cancelled its flights for Sunday and Monday, saying it had been informed at short notice over the change of ground-handling services provider.
Qatar resumed operations at its Doha base, but has in the meantime announced that it will temporarily cancel flights to Windhoek, effective 23 November to 30 March 2024.
On Saturday, an Ethiopian Airlines flight took off two hours after scheduled departure, while flights operated by Airlink, South African Airways and FlyNamibia took off as scheduled.
Teething problems
On its part, Airlink emphasised its intent to continue operating flights to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, despite the short notice given by the NAC over Menzies’ removal.
“While the delays are beyond Airlink’s control, to avoid bottlenecks and minimise delays, we deployed a team of personnel from Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in addition to our Windhoek staff to ensure our flights to and from the Namibian capital were not disrupted,” it said in a statement.
The airline added that it anticipated teething problems in light of the sudden handover of ground-handling services.
“We anticipate further teething issues as Paragon becomes fully resourced and equipped to deliver all of the services it has assumed. These include passenger check-in, boarding and disembarkation of flights, security on the aircraft parking apron, baggage handling, cleaning and provisioning of flights,” it said.
NAC fumes
NAC chairman Leake Hangala blasted Menzies for refusing to hand over the services it offers to Paragon, despite losing a bid.
The company is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Paragon, and is arguing that it will need at least a year to properly hand over ground-handling activities at the Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Calling out Menzies, Hangala said the firm was entitled and was sidelining Paragon, who was now responsible for operating ground-handling services.
“The arrogance, the entitlement, the misuse of our judicial system, the audacity to question our sovereignty and the attitude that those born in Katutura do not possess the capacity to manage modern economic activities and therefore should be sidelined should stop,” he wrote in a social media post.
Also calling out Menzies was information ministry executive director Audrin Mathe, who labelled Menzies’ conduct deplorable.
“Menzies’ behaviour is deplorable. Can you imagine Paragon doing this in the United Kingdom? They first remind you you are African and you must stay in your country. Well done, NAC, for finally taking the necessary action,” he said.
Court fights
Meanwhile, the ground-handling saga not only kept airport officials busy on Saturday morning - court officials were also roped in to entertain an urgent application by Menzies.
The company claimed that its ground-handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport were illegally suspended.
In the matter, which has been postponed to today, Menzies dragged Paragon, Ethiopian Airlines, the minister of home affairs, safety and security, the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority, the deputy sheriff of Windhoek and the inspector-general of the Namibian Police into the fray.
This lawsuit stems from several applications Menzies has already brought against, among others, the NAC after they were allegedly illegally evicted from the airport.
Menzies employees got the shock of their lives when they were told to drop whatever they were doing and vacate the facility, despite their employer seeking relief in court over the matter.
The eviction resulted in a chaotic few hours and left the new ground-handling service provider, Paragon Investment Holdings, with little time for a smooth transition.
The staff of the new ground-handler could be seen running helter-skelter to ensure that travellers were attended to.
Long queues snaked from every ticket desk and the entire building vibrated with noise, while a sense of uncertainty was on display on the faces of hundreds of travellers.
Paragon has, however, maintained that it has managed to execute its new mandate without faults despite the time constraints so far, further indicating that it is fully capacitated to provide ground-handling services.
In limbo
The situation also left airlines in limbo, with some flights diverted to South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
The airlines serviced at the airport include Eurowings, TAAG, Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Namibia, South African Airways and Airlink.
Eurowings Discover’s two flights scheduled for Windhoek diverted to Johannesburg as well as Qatar’s Windhoek-Doha flight.
Eurowings Discover also cancelled its flights for Sunday and Monday, saying it had been informed at short notice over the change of ground-handling services provider.
Qatar resumed operations at its Doha base, but has in the meantime announced that it will temporarily cancel flights to Windhoek, effective 23 November to 30 March 2024.
On Saturday, an Ethiopian Airlines flight took off two hours after scheduled departure, while flights operated by Airlink, South African Airways and FlyNamibia took off as scheduled.
Teething problems
On its part, Airlink emphasised its intent to continue operating flights to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, despite the short notice given by the NAC over Menzies’ removal.
“While the delays are beyond Airlink’s control, to avoid bottlenecks and minimise delays, we deployed a team of personnel from Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in addition to our Windhoek staff to ensure our flights to and from the Namibian capital were not disrupted,” it said in a statement.
The airline added that it anticipated teething problems in light of the sudden handover of ground-handling services.
“We anticipate further teething issues as Paragon becomes fully resourced and equipped to deliver all of the services it has assumed. These include passenger check-in, boarding and disembarkation of flights, security on the aircraft parking apron, baggage handling, cleaning and provisioning of flights,” it said.
NAC fumes
NAC chairman Leake Hangala blasted Menzies for refusing to hand over the services it offers to Paragon, despite losing a bid.
The company is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Paragon, and is arguing that it will need at least a year to properly hand over ground-handling activities at the Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Calling out Menzies, Hangala said the firm was entitled and was sidelining Paragon, who was now responsible for operating ground-handling services.
“The arrogance, the entitlement, the misuse of our judicial system, the audacity to question our sovereignty and the attitude that those born in Katutura do not possess the capacity to manage modern economic activities and therefore should be sidelined should stop,” he wrote in a social media post.
Also calling out Menzies was information ministry executive director Audrin Mathe, who labelled Menzies’ conduct deplorable.
“Menzies’ behaviour is deplorable. Can you imagine Paragon doing this in the United Kingdom? They first remind you you are African and you must stay in your country. Well done, NAC, for finally taking the necessary action,” he said.
Court fights
Meanwhile, the ground-handling saga not only kept airport officials busy on Saturday morning - court officials were also roped in to entertain an urgent application by Menzies.
The company claimed that its ground-handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport were illegally suspended.
In the matter, which has been postponed to today, Menzies dragged Paragon, Ethiopian Airlines, the minister of home affairs, safety and security, the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority, the deputy sheriff of Windhoek and the inspector-general of the Namibian Police into the fray.
This lawsuit stems from several applications Menzies has already brought against, among others, the NAC after they were allegedly illegally evicted from the airport.
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