newstodate.aero
Dec 20, 2010 (newstodate): Operating only since the start of 2010, the Latvian ground handling provider North Hub Services is on tracks for more new market openings in 2010.
NHS started out from its home base in Latvia's Riga Airport on January 1, 2010, adding a subsidiary at Finland's Helsinki Vantaa Airport on July 1, 2010 and planning also for opening up handling services at Estonia's Tallinn Airport from summer 2010.
-Passenger volumes at Tallinn Airport did not, however, reach the two mil passengers mark warranting the opening of the handling market, and the airport, itself engaged in the handling business, remains keen to stick to EU regulations, says Janis Balkens, NHS CEO.
-We are, however, following developments closely in Tallinn, and we expect volumes to go beyond two mio passengers in 2011, thanks not least to the launch of Ryanair's services at the airport.
-Once the two mio mark is reached, we will be ready to move in. In the meantime we are gaining experience through providing self-handling for airBaltic's operations, and this experience may prove a further asset once we move in in full force.
-One highlight in 2011 will be the opening, by April 2011, of our new subsidiary in Sweden's Stockholm Arlanda Airport. This is going to be a major event and a challenge, given the scope of operations and the competitive situation in the Swedish market.
-We will also stick to plans for opening up handling operations in Lithuania's Vilnius Airport from September 2011, and with that I am confident that we will be fully occupied in the coming year as well, says Mr Balkens.
In the current plan is, next, the entry into the Danish handling market with opening of operations at Copenhagen Airport from 2012.
North Hub Services, growing from 100 staff at the beginning and now employing 540 staff, was established in 2009 by Baltijas Aviacijas Sistemas owned by Bertolt Flick, who is also the president, CEO and co-owner of the Latvian carrier airBaltic.
On April 12, 2010, the Turkish ground handling company HAVAS bought 50 percent of the shares in North Hub Services.
NHS started out from its home base in Latvia's Riga Airport on January 1, 2010, adding a subsidiary at Finland's Helsinki Vantaa Airport on July 1, 2010 and planning also for opening up handling services at Estonia's Tallinn Airport from summer 2010.
-Passenger volumes at Tallinn Airport did not, however, reach the two mil passengers mark warranting the opening of the handling market, and the airport, itself engaged in the handling business, remains keen to stick to EU regulations, says Janis Balkens, NHS CEO.
-We are, however, following developments closely in Tallinn, and we expect volumes to go beyond two mio passengers in 2011, thanks not least to the launch of Ryanair's services at the airport.
-Once the two mio mark is reached, we will be ready to move in. In the meantime we are gaining experience through providing self-handling for airBaltic's operations, and this experience may prove a further asset once we move in in full force.
-One highlight in 2011 will be the opening, by April 2011, of our new subsidiary in Sweden's Stockholm Arlanda Airport. This is going to be a major event and a challenge, given the scope of operations and the competitive situation in the Swedish market.
-We will also stick to plans for opening up handling operations in Lithuania's Vilnius Airport from September 2011, and with that I am confident that we will be fully occupied in the coming year as well, says Mr Balkens.
In the current plan is, next, the entry into the Danish handling market with opening of operations at Copenhagen Airport from 2012.
North Hub Services, growing from 100 staff at the beginning and now employing 540 staff, was established in 2009 by Baltijas Aviacijas Sistemas owned by Bertolt Flick, who is also the president, CEO and co-owner of the Latvian carrier airBaltic.
On April 12, 2010, the Turkish ground handling company HAVAS bought 50 percent of the shares in North Hub Services.