US, British firms bid for Rs 700-cr Mumbai Airport deal

Mumbai: US-based Worldwide Flight Services, Swissport International of Spain and UK's Menzies Bobba Ground Handling Services are among seven bidders vying for the Mumbai International Airport's Rs 700 crore yearly ground handling contract.
While Swissport, an European infrastructure and service corporation providing value-added airport services at 187 airports across 43 countries, is going with India's Punj Lloyd group, Menzies is partnering Cambata Aviation for the bid. Cambata has been providing airport services at the Mumbai airport since 1967.
Turkey's Celebi Ground Handling is reportedly teaming up with Spencer Travels as overseas bidders. Spencers has a presence as an agency representing Cathay Pacific for passenger and cargo in southern and eastern parts of India and is also an agency for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
The GVK-led consortium mandated to modernise and upgrade the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) may name a winning bidder for the handling contract as early as August or at least four months ahead of the new regulations that make it mandatory for airport operators to either get into ground handling directly or to invite specialised agencies to bid for both passenger and ramp handling at the airport, besides the National Aviation Company Ltd.
The new policy comes into effect from January 1 next year. An MIAL spokesperson refused to divulge details as to when the bids would be finalised.
09/06/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Jun 2008, Foreign Jun 2008