BOUGHT OUT of the Transnet stable by a private partnership of investors three years ago, Equity Aviation Holdings has just ended a major 12-month buying spree – with the acquisition of nine new subsidiaries all finalised in only the last two months. It has now created a healthy footprint in the marketplace as a significant player. In its acquisition binge, the holding company has acquired the balance of Transnet’s shares in Equity Aviation Services, and in SA now also owns Passenger Support Services; Spotco Cargo; Air Care Cargo and Aviation GSA, and holds a 75% shareholding in Resolution Avionics. Elsewhere on the continent it also has 75% of Servisair in Namibia; 50% of Servisair Indian Ocean Limited in Mauritius; 51% of Peckair in Tanzania; and 30% of Aero Services in Egypt. Said marketing executive, Herman Fleischman: “We took a loss-making, state-owned business and turned it around into an award winning business in the industry. “In just three short years, we have moved from being the largest aviation logistics provider in SA to the largest in Africa – and this is just the start.” On the local scene, the company is mostly involved in ground handling, but has also added a number of other associated products through its combined group of individual operations, according to marketing manager, Sandy Ramnath. Spotco, for example, she told FTW, is a road feeder network – giving the group transport on land in SA and Namibia as well as its air transport function. Resolution Avionics adds a repair and maintenance arm – basically providing avionic services for narrow-bodied aircraft amongst the group’s client base. Aviation GSA, meanwhile, sells belly space in the aircraft belonging to its customer airlines. “Equity Aviation,” said Ramnath, “now does the ground handling for 25 000 aircraft per month in SA – with 12 500 flights on the incoming leg and the same number outgoing.
