Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Paragon Aviation Services, the company currently managing ground handling services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, has announced its expansion into other African countries.
Paragon’s executive director, Desmond Amunyela said the company currently operates duty-free stores at Victoria Falls International Airport and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Zimbabwe and Lusaka International Airport in Zambia.
Zambia has invited the company to expand services to a secondary airport at Ndola in the copper belt areas.
Amunyela said there are plans to expand into other countries such as Angola, South Africa, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
“We are doing a few things in the aviation space and we are looking at Angola and South Africa specifically for ground handling and Rwanda is the other one because they built a new airport,” said Amunyela during an interview.
The Airports Company of Zambia invited Paragon to expand its services to a secondary airport in the country’s north, according to Amunyela.
He noted that the company is also preparing to assess an airport in South Sudan for potential ground handling services.
“Hopefully, we will be successful, and then we will not just be talking about Paragon, Namibia, but Paragon Africa,” he said.
The expansion comes as Paragon marks its first year managing ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Beyond its current operations, he said Paragon is planning significant infrastructure developments in Namibia.
The company is looking to support the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) by bringing in the necessary infrastructure to bolster the aviation industry.
“As a Namibian company that has found a home in the aviation sector, we are looking at ways to support the Airports Company to bring about the requisite infrastructure required to support the aviation industry comprehensively,” Amunyela said.
Among the planned developments is the establishment of a technical centre at Hosea Kutako International Airport, where aircraft could undergo maintenance such as wheel, windscreen, and oil changes.
Amunyela noted that currently, only a South African company with a satellite office in Namibia offers these services. However, Paragon aims to introduce a comprehensive infrastructure to fill this gap.
“Very soon, you will see massive infrastructure development in that regard,” he added.
Additionally, he said Paragon plans to establish a training facility to ensure that its staff remains up-to-date with industry standards.
He emphasised the importance of this training, citing the aviation industry’s stringent safety and security requirements.
Paragon’s journey in the aviation industry began over 15 years ago with a coffee shop at Eros Airport.
Over time, Amunyela said the company identified a need for more local expertise in ground handling and other aviation services, which led to its current position.
“We also cannot depend on people from outside to provide these services,” he said.
The company took over operations on 19 August 2023, following the departure of Menzies Aviation, the British company that previously managed these services.
Menzies was forced to leave after a protracted legal battle, which culminated in the High Court ordering its final removal.
Paragon won the contract through a competitive bidding process.
