Niël Terblanché
Paragon Aviation Services (PAS) has reached an agreement with regional airline, Airlink for cargo handling at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) with immediate effect.
Airlink suspended air cargo operations to HKIA shortly after Menzie Aviation Services was evicted from the premises of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) almost two weeks ago.
According to Carla da Silva, the executive manager of sales and marketing at Airlink, the decision to resume air cargo services followed a constructive discussion with the principles of Paragon, the new ground handler at the international airport.
“We ascertained that Paragon’s aviation security – including dangerous goods handling – and other cargo handling certifications, approvals, and protocols were in place,” she said.
She said that Airlink personnel will support Paragon staff to familiarise them with the airline’s cargo handling processes.
“This will ensure continuity and consistency in providing top class, reliable, on-time, safe and secure air freight services,” she said.
Da Silva in her statement, apologised to customers affected by the temporary suspension of cargo services at the HKIA.
She stressed that the airline will do everything in its power to expedite clearing the cargo backlog of the past week and a half.
Airlink passenger services to Windhoek have continued without any delay since Paragon took over ground handling services
At the time of the switch between Paragon and Menzies, the airline deployed a team of additional personnel from South Africa to assist with passenger processing.
Airlink operates up to four flights per day between Windhoek and Johannesburg and up to three flights per day between Cape Town and the Namibian capital.
