'Total chaos' at Hosea Kutako
Travellers, personnel and airlines are, according to a source at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, 'totally lost' after the Namibian Airports Company (NAC) this morning confirmed that Paragon Holdings is taking over Menzies'ground-handling services as from today.
"It's total chaos! Three airplanes are stuck in Johannesburg and don't know if they should leave. Tour operators don't know if they will still need to pick up tourists. People don't know if flights are suspended or not. This is a total nightmare for Namibian tourism and our country," a source said.
A service provider at the airport earlier confirmed the chaos, alleging that Paragon presented a ‘stop list’ that Menzies was not allowed on site and that all the company's permits must be confiscated. According to the source, none of the service providers at the airport - including security - were informed by NAC about the latest developments.
This means that the service providers can’t remove Menzies’ personnel because they still have a contract with the company, while Paragon’s contract for the placement of personnel is not finalised yet.
Flights allegedly had to be re-routed or suspended.
In a statement released yesterday, Menzies said the public can be assured that it will - for “at least the next 12 months” - deliver services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. This follows a High Court order on 9 August that the company and the NAC indeed have an agreement in place, in spite of the fact that the previous one had lapsed.
The court ordered that if the NAC wanted to end the contract, it must give Menzies 30 days' notice to evacuate the airport. Menzies yesterday claimed the High Court’s finding that a 30-day notice must be given was made in circumstances where the court was not aware of the effects of a rent ordinance. Paragon yesterday opted to not comment.
"It's total chaos! Three airplanes are stuck in Johannesburg and don't know if they should leave. Tour operators don't know if they will still need to pick up tourists. People don't know if flights are suspended or not. This is a total nightmare for Namibian tourism and our country," a source said.
A service provider at the airport earlier confirmed the chaos, alleging that Paragon presented a ‘stop list’ that Menzies was not allowed on site and that all the company's permits must be confiscated. According to the source, none of the service providers at the airport - including security - were informed by NAC about the latest developments.
This means that the service providers can’t remove Menzies’ personnel because they still have a contract with the company, while Paragon’s contract for the placement of personnel is not finalised yet.
Flights allegedly had to be re-routed or suspended.
In a statement released yesterday, Menzies said the public can be assured that it will - for “at least the next 12 months” - deliver services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. This follows a High Court order on 9 August that the company and the NAC indeed have an agreement in place, in spite of the fact that the previous one had lapsed.
The court ordered that if the NAC wanted to end the contract, it must give Menzies 30 days' notice to evacuate the airport. Menzies yesterday claimed the High Court’s finding that a 30-day notice must be given was made in circumstances where the court was not aware of the effects of a rent ordinance. Paragon yesterday opted to not comment.
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