Paris, Amstelveen, Le Bourget, June 20, 2019 - AFI KLM E&M and AIBD Assistance Services (2AS), the exclusive airport ground handling services provider at AIBD (Aéroport International Blaise Diagne), signed on June 18, in presence of Senegal's Minister of Tourism and Air Transport Alioune Sarr, a partnership agreement to pool their expertise and resources in a joint venture dubbed 2AS Technics. 2AS Technics' operations will focus on line maintenance support for airlines based at or flying to the new Dakar airport.
High-level line maintenance offering
As the exclusive airport ground handling services provider at the airport under a ministerial decree, 2AS set up its 2AS Technics subsidiary to handle line maintenance services at the airport. 2AS Technics already supports regional airlines, including Senegal's new flag-carrier, Air Senegal. Through its partnership with 2AS and equity interest in 2AS Technics, AFI KLM E&M will contribute its expertise to the joint venture to deliver competitive, high-quality line maintenance to the international airlines operating to and from Dakar.
Anne Brachet, Executive Vice President, Air France KLM Engineering & Maintenance, said: "We are delighted to contribute our skills and expertise to 2AS Technics so as to offer the best line maintenance support for airlines operating at Blaise Diagne International Airport. AFI KLM E&M is one of the world market leader for such services through its Line Maintenance International network, and customer airlines are guaranteed to benefit from reliable, top-quality and competitive support at the airport when they call on 2AS Technics solutions for their line maintenance operations."
Blaise Diagne, a major airline development center
After entering service on 7 December 2017, Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport handled over 2 million passengers during its first year in operation and is a major driver for developing tourism throughout the region. Currently, the airport is used by over 30 regional and international airlines serving 40 destinations in 33 countries on four continents. The partnership between AFI KLM E&M, whose line maintenance solutions are internationally regarded, and 2AS as part of 2AS Technics, will contribute to enhancing the airport's reputation and to attracting new carriers to the airport, where they will benefit from high-level line maintenance services based on AFI KLME&M's MRO-Airline know-how and experience.
Alioune Sarr, Senegal's Minister for Tourism and Air Transport welcomed this "convergence, which will contribute to bolstering the attractiveness of Blaise Diagne International Airport. The alliance between the regional specialist in airport ground assistance services, 2AS, and the leader on the global line maintenance market, AFI KLM E&M, will deliver ultra-efficient line maintenance support to the carriers already using the airport as well as all those that may want to include Dakar in their flight network."
Ibrahima Kane, Air Senegal Chief Executive Officer added: "The partnership between AFI KLM E&M and 2AS is a major opportunity for airlines flying to and from the Blaise Diagne hub. Air Senegal is one such and, in this respect, can benefit from top-quality line maintenance support underpinned by the expertise of AFI KLM E&M, the world market leader for this product and for aircraft maintenance. The offering of 2AS Technics delivers real added value for the operations of Air Senegal and other carriers at Blaise Diagne International Airport."
Askin Demir, 2AS Chief Executive Officer, declared: "We are pleased with this partnership between AFI KLM E&M and 2AS. The 2AS Technics joint venture promotes a strengthened and credible technical skillset by combining its name and offering with the brand image and experience of a leading player in the global MRO market, known and recognized for the quality of its services, and its line maintenance solutions in particular."
About AIBD Assistance Services (2AS)
The company 2AS was created on August 17, 2017. 2AS is granted exclusivity on ground handling services except the "Catering" by ministerial order N ° 19419 of September 20, 2017. The airport manager LAS SA and the national airline AIR SENEGAL SA are the two shareholders of the handling compagny. 2AS SA has a staff of over nine hundred (900) people to cover all of its activities. It has initiated all its certification processes (ISAGO, RA3, ISO 9001, etc.) and aims to be ranked as a regional leader and reference in ground handling services. Her subsidiary 2AS TECHNICS will be the one providing line Maintenance service upon license delivery by Civil Aviation Authorities and also started the process of its EASA Part 145 Certification and in meantime partnering with AFI KLM E&M.