JOY ORLEK EQUITY AVIATION’S acquisition trail is far from over. “Having added a diversified range of businesses to its palette over the past year, the company is on course to grow its aviation logistics portfolio,” says Herman Fleischmann, executive manager: client care and marketing. “We have successfully moved our business from being just a ground handler to now being the largest aviation logistics service provider in Africa. This allows us to offer a far wider bouquet of services under one banner through the cargo businesses we have acquired – Aviation GSA, Spotco and Air Care Cargo (ACC),” said Fleischmann. “The brand names have been retained, operating as divisions of the Equity Group, while the staff remains unchanged, with Equity appointees overseeing the operations. “Ideally we aim to offer one contract to our clients, enabling us to handle all aspects of their ground handling requirements. This would remove the logistical nightmare facing them.” The Equity focus for the future is not however confined to South Africa. “We are now present in Namibia, Mauritius, Tanzania, Egypt and Morocco and this year we’ll be looking at Nigeria, Kenya, the DRC and India. Currently task teams are conducting due diligence in these areas,” said Fleischmann. “The core of our investment outside of SA is ground handling, but if you look at Mauritius, it has a very big import/export market. The idea is to develop that market by possibly introducing the services of Spotco, ACC and Aviation GSA to that client base. “They’re all businesses with huge potential and we feel they could help to grow the Equity brand.” The company is also heavily involved in passenger-related logistics which includes baggage wrapping and aircraft washing, executive charters and Hola!, a VIP meet and greet for executives travelling.
