Aviapartner strengthens Angola’s aviation ecosystem with certified operations at Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ), Angolan shareholding, and a 100% local operational workforce.
Aviapartner, one of Europe and Africa’s leading independent ground handling providers, reaffirms its long-term commitment to Angola’s aviation sector through certified operations at the Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ), a 100% Angolan operational workforce, and a corporate structure that includes Angolan shareholders from the outset.
Today, air services from Luanda serve approximately 3 million passengers per year, while NBJ has been built to accommodate up to 18 million passengers annually—a step-change in capacity that underscores Angola’s ambition to develop a high-quality operational hub for West & Central Africa. With more than 75 years of experience across 75+ airports in Europe and Africa, Aviapartner is embedding internationally recognised safety, quality, and training frameworks while developing local capability and governance. Since establishing Aviapartner Angola LDA—with Angolan shareholding integrated into the company’s ownership and oversight—the business has employed over 170 Angolan nationals. The entire operational complement is Angolan, many with prior experience at Luanda’s former airport (LAD), and all have been retrained and re-certified to global standards. Local ownership, leadership participation, and talent development together anchor a model designed for durability and national value creation—well aligned with NBJ’s role as a regional hub.
Local ownership, local value
- Angolan shareholders participate in ownership and governance, aligning strategic priorities with national objectives.
- Financial and operational capabilities are reinvested locally through training, supplier development, and long-life safety and quality programs.
- Decision-making is guided by local market insight, ensuring services and investment plans reflect Angola’s operational realities and growth ambitions.
Building capability with local partners
Aviapartner follows a local-first procurement strategy wherever feasible—covering staff uniforms and PPE, aircraft-cleaning consumables and chemicals, and airside automobiles—to shorten lead times and channel value to Angolan suppliers. Where highly specialised ground support equipment (GSE) is not manufactured locally, Aviapartner sources from certified international OEMs in Europe and China to meet reliability and compliance requirements.
Certified to operate, audited to perform
Aviapartner’s operations at NBJ are conducted under an operating licence issued by the competent authorities and certification by the Angolan Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). All requisite documentation has been audited, and on-site operational reviews have validated procedures against international aviation standards consistently applied across Aviapartner’s network.
Seamless service at Angola’s flagship airport
The company supported the first Emirates flight at NBJ, demonstrating coordinated ramp and passenger-service delivery at Angola’s state-of-the-art gateway. Performance is anchored in on-time delivery, safety leadership, and service quality, underpinned by comprehensive training, recurrent assessments, and continuous improvement.
Investing in people, training, and equipment
- 100% Angolan operational workforce; 170+ local colleagues employed from the former handing company at LAD (Ghassist) and upskilled to international standards
- Structured training and re-certification aligned to international ground handling standards
- Targeted capital investment to support the safe transition of activities from LAD to NBJ
- Local-first procurement for uniforms, PPE, consumables, and vehicles; specialised GSE sourced from certified international manufacturers when not available locally
Aviapartner’s ownership structure in Angola—combined with NBJ’s expanded capacity, sustained investment, and rigorous standards—provides a stable platform for airline partners and a clear pathway for skills transfer, industry advancement, and long-term economic contribution as Angola steps forward as a regional aviation hub.
