Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc
Explaining some important points during the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Gateway Forum held at the ground handling company’s Lagos headquarters over the weekend
… says SAHCO cruises despite headwinds
The Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC. Mrs Adenike Aboderin has called on the Federal government to consider aviation ground handling companies for tax incentives and waivers on importation of equipments to successfully navigate their turbulent headwinds.
She made the call over the weekend while during a Gateway Forum organised by League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) and held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos headquarters of the ground handling company.
The Gateway Forum is a platform organised by League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) for Chief executive officers of Aviation related organisations operating in Nigeria to give insight into the goals, prospects and challenges of their organisations in the industry.
Nothing that the ground handling subsector of the aviation industry continues to encounter turbulent and unpredictable outcomes in its operations, the SAHCO boss affirmed that ground handling companies operating in the country need tax incentives and import waivers to be able to sustain the global operating standards prescribed for them.
She lamented that while airlines sùbsector of the industry get tax incentives and import waivers on equipments and spareparts from the government, ground handlers which also pppprocure their equipments and spsre parts abroad are not considered for such benefits.
“Airline subsector of the aviation industry gets the atntion of the Federal government on their requests for tax incentives and import waivers on equipment and spare parts, but these are not extended to the ground handling subsector of the same industry. This has to be addresse she explained,”just like the airlines, ground handlers procure their equipment and spare psrts in forex, train their personnel abroad, undergo domestic and international certifications yet charge their rates in Naira.”
“We have to convert our Naira to foreign currencies whenever want want to acquire any equipment, spare parts or send our personnel for trainings abroad.,” Aboderin lamented.
She however said that despite these realities, SAHCO continues to deliver value to its stakeholders, clients and airlines across its 22 network locations and sustsin its vision to become the leading provider of Passenger, Ramp, and Cargo Handling Services in the West African Sub Region.
Outlining the organisation’s current situation and its plans going forward Aboderin said, “SAHCO drives operational excellence by implementing new technologies, standardizing processes, and achieving 27 per cent annual cost savings
“On the strategy of operational excellence, on technology, and also on infrastructure, and also on the people. we’re working on three Ps, People, Processes, Practice, and best practices. So that’s what we’re focussing on, service excellence, operational excellence, and also technology and infrastructural improvement.”
She added that the West African leading ground handling company investments in market expansion, sustainable technology, and workforce quality are to drive future growth and resilience
On the financial performance of the public quoted ground handling company, Aboderin stated that the company enhanced its financial resilience by improving efficiency, investing in technology, and fostering partnerships, leading to a 27 percent year-on-year cost reduction through new digital tools and streamlined processes. For future growth, even as she disclosed that SAHCO is expanding into new markets, adopting eco-friendly equipment, and investing in workforce training and service quality. These efforts, she said delivered strong financial results, including 82 per dent profit growth, 57 percent revenue growth, and an NGN 13 billion rise in assets.
