NHS Zimbabwe  set for growth with airport upgrade

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By Itai Ndongwe

Harare- National Handling Services (NHS), a leading provider of airport handling services, expects a 5% increase in passenger and aircraft handling by 2025.

This growth trend will be fueled by the expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (RGMI) and the anticipation of new airlines. Once finished, the airport will have the capacity to handle a significant increase in passenger traffic, reaching an impressive 6 million passengers per year.

In 2023, NHS marked a continued recovery from COVID-19, registering a 29% year-on-year increase in business as the company handled a total of 16,191 flights for both domestic and international routes, compared to 12,559 flights handled in 2022, with an on-time performance of 99%. This performance was 6% above the pre-COVID-19 flight frequencies of 15,267 at the close of 2022.
During the period under review, incoming and outgoing passenger traffic recorded a 27% increase in 2023, with 1,669,936 passengers being handled at the four major airports compared to 1,314,254 handled in 2022.
Of the passenger traffic, Airlink contributed 25%, Fastjet 21%, Ethiopian Airlines 14%, Emirates 8%, and other airlines contributed 32%. However, in November 2023, Fastjet Zimbabwe discontinued its contract with NHS to partner with another handling operator. 

Speaking during the company’s AGM, NHS Acting CEO Philip Rambakudzibwa said, “In terms of passengers, we see our airport growing. Remember that after the expansion of the RGMI airport, the target is for us to be able to handle 6 million passengers annually. So we see probably a 5% increase in 2025. If you look at the trajectory post-COVID, it’s going up. And we will probably see a few airlines coming into the country next year.”

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the global aviation industry, causing a significant decline in passenger numbers. However, as the industry gradually recovers, NHS Zimbabwe is witnessing a steady uptick in passenger traffic.

The year 2024 has seen an influx of new airlines into the country, including SafAir, CemAir, and Royal Eswatini Airlines. The Ministry of Transport’s efforts to attract more airlines to Zimbabwe are also bearing fruit, with several carriers poised to commence operations in the coming year.NHS is working closely with the ministry to ensure a seamless handling experience for these new airlines. “The ministry is already at work around that. And we believe that it will create an opportunity for us to handle more passengers and airlines going into the future, ” he added.

NHS Board Chairman Advocate Godwin Nyengedza confirmed that the company is poised for significant growth in the coming year, driven by the expansion of Harare Airport. This expansion will accommodate larger aircraft, attracting more airlines and increasing passenger and cargo traffic.Additionally, the company’s planned dry port, strategically located along the Beira corridor, is expected to capitalize on regional trade opportunities. By expanding its service offerings along the value chain, the company aims to fully exploit the potential of its core businesses.

Going forward, NHS plans to capitalize on the dry port, a key infrastructure project poised to become a major driver of trade. Strategically located, it offers direct sea access. To maximize its potential, the company plans to expand its capacity, diversify cargo handling, and invest in additional infrastructure, including a buoyance facility.
This will enable the company to offer a wider range of services and attract foreign investment. Additionally, the company is exploring the establishment of a dry bond in Mutare to further strengthen Zimbabwe’s logistics network.
“It is one of the potential key drivers for trade, not just local but also international. It brings us to the sea through the world’s bay corridor. Our plans for the dry port are a natural way to capitalize on this opportunity. We need to capacitate it to increase the scope of cargo we can handle at the dry port. As we speak now, it is very close to reaching critical mass in terms of self-financing its own expenses,” Rambakudzibwa added.

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