National Aviation Services (NAS) and NAC2000 Corporation have launched their Pearl Lounge at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka, Zambia. The lounge located at the new terminal is part of Zambia Airports Corporation Limited’s (ZACL) efforts to upgrade international airports in the country. Last June, ZACL awarded a five-year tender to NAS and NAC2000 to build and operate an exclusive departure lounge catering to passengers travelling out from Lusaka. The 588 square meter Pearl Lounge includes comfortable seating, food and beverages, free Wi-Fi access as well as a children’s play area among other facilities.
A number of dignitaries including Mr. Frederick Mwalusaka, Zambian Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Mr. Gabriel Lesa, Director General of Zambia Civil Aviation Authority and Ms. Maggie Banda, Acting MD of ZACL attended the launch event. In his speech at the opening, Mr. Mwalusaka said, “I would like to applaud this joint venture between NAS and NAC2000. This is a good example of local and foreign partnerships that create more quality products and services and employment opportunities in Zambia. It is the hope that such ventures within our new airport are the beginning of a new era for travel from Lusaka.”
All international flights out of Lusaka will fly from the new terminal at KKIA, which opened in August 2021. This includes leading international airlines including Air France – KLM in partnership with Kenya Airways, Airlink, Air Tanzania, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Proflight Zambia, Qatar, Rwanda Air and South African Airlines. Zambia Airways, the recently relaunched national carrier is operating from this airport and other airlines are also expected to open routes into Zambia.
Guy Michel Yazbek, Group Director, Lounges & Meet and Assist Services at NAS highlighted “We are excited to be working with the ZACL and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in Zambia. The launch of our new Pearl Lounge is significant. Not only because it is located at the largest airport in Zambia but also because we won this tender in the middle of a global pandemic when the aviation industry was on a downturn. The KKIA airport serves as a hub for domestic and international flights and the new lounge is the perfect space for passengers to relax and unwind or catch up on last minute work before they fly. We would like to take this opportunity to thank ZACL for the confidence and trust invested in the NAS and NAC2000 partnership. We also would like to emphasize on NAS’ commitment to Zambia and our willingness to expand our participation in the Zambian aviation industry.”
National Aviation Services (NAS), a leading airport services provider in emerging markets partners with NAC2000 Corporation, a key ground services company in Zambia to operate this Pearl Lounge. The new Pearl Lounge is one of over 50 lounges operated by NAS across its network in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. NAS’s extended portfolio of services includes comprehensive ground handling, cargo management, technology solutions and training among others, currently serving over 100 airline customers across more than 60 airports.
Jonathan Lewis, Managing Director of NAC2000 Corporation added, “We as NAC2000 are honored to share participation in this joint venture with NAS and to work with ZACL to deliver world class lounge service and hospitality through the Pearl Lounge at the new terminal facility at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.”
NAC2000 Corporation, a Zambian company serves all the international airports supporting airlines as well as ad hoc operators for the last 20 years. It is the only ISAGO registered and certified ground services provider in Zambia and offers warehousing, and cold storage while continuing to evolve and become an industry leader in the service of support logistics relating to the movement of cargo and passengers.
About National Aviation Services (NAS)
National Aviation Services (NAS) is the fastest growing aviation services provider in the emerging markets. Established in 2003, NAS quickly transformed from a Kuwait based ground handling company into an emerging markets leader in the industry. NAS is present in over 60 airports across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, handling seven of the world’s top 10 airlines and managing more than 50 airport lounges.
With an employee base of over 10,000 capable and experienced employees at the core of its worldwide network, NAS is committed to providing aviation services that benchmark to the best in the world. The NAS portfolio of services includes ramp and passenger services, cargo management, engineering and line maintenance, airport technologies, fixed base operations, terminal management, aviation training, travel solutions, lounge management and meet-and-assist packages.
Affiliated with leading industry organizations, NAS follows international aviation standards with certifications from ISO, EMS, RA3 and OHSAS practices. NAS is one of the first ground handlers in the world to obtain the IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification illustrating the company’s commitment to providing high quality services, with a focus on safety and security.
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