Airport ground handler Menzies considers expansion in Gulf, Syria and US despite war uncertainty
Airport ground handler Menzies Aviation is planning expansion in the Gulf and US, while the Syrian market is of interest, as it aims to sustain its “aggressive” growth despite Iran war-related travel disruptions and higher costs. The aviation services company, which has a regional office in Dubai, is keen to serve airports in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which has a “very fast-growing, large,…
Menzies Aviation, a London-based company, is considering expanding its ground handling operations in the Gulf, Syria and the United States. The company, which is part of Kuwait's Agility Global, has already established operations in Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the UAE. Menzies CEO Hassan El-Houry stated that the company aims to grow aggressively in these regions despite the uncertainty caused by the Iran war and geopolitical disruptions.
Menzies is particularly interested in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have dynamic and fast-growing aviation markets. The company already operates in Kuwait, where it recently concluded its operations at Kuwait International Airport after the contract expired. Kuwait is considered a potential future market after Menzies ended its operations there.
El-Houry also highlighted the potential for growth in Syria, noting that the country's civil aviation sector may attract new foreign investment after the US removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism last month. Menzies is considering the economic and legal aspects of the market but remains objective in its approach, focusing on commercial and operational factors rather than political considerations.
In the United States, Menzies has doubled its footprint in the last two years, serving 108 airports. The company aims to continue growing in this key market, where it provides ground handling, aircraft fuelling, cargo and lounge services. El-Houry emphasized that Menzies sees the US as a crucial market and will continue to expand there.
The company's aggressive growth strategy is driven by the increasing demand for aviation services and the resilience of airlines in navigating the challenges posed by the Iran war. Despite geopolitical uncertainties, the Gulf airlines have shown remarkable recovery and have restored their route networks to nearly 90% of pre-war levels. However, the high fuel costs and unpredictable prices remain a major challenge for the aviation industry.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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