Open for business

A snapshot of the latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners.

Grand Cayman’s airfield upgrade

Work has been completed on the reconstruction and expansion of the airside infrastructure at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

According to the Stantec led design team, the major airfield upgrades are set to increase safety and efficiency at the island’s “most vital piece of infrastructure” as it serves as its primary connection to the rest of the world.

The project included strengthening and extending the airport’s only runway to allow for long-haul, wide-body aircraft to fly direct routes from Europe and North America to Grand Cayman.

A parallel taxiway and a taxiway turnaround were also constructed to increase safety and efficiency at the airport by giving aircraft a viable alternative to back-taxiing on the runway.

“This was a major airfield overhaul executed under the most unusual circumstances,” said Leigh Bartlett, principal with Stantec’s airport group.

“My hat is off to our on-site project personnel, and I am thankful for the partnership of Island Paving/Decco/IDL Projects and the airport authority. Working together, we were able to see this to a successful completion.”

Cayman Islands Airports Authority CEO, Albert Anderson, said: “This airfield expansion is part of a larger airports development master plan that will have lasting economic and community benefits for the people of the Cayman Islands.”

New safety guidelines adopted by dnata catering

The adoption of new industry guidelines issued by the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) and the Airline Catering Association (ACA) will help ensure that dnata consistently delivers the highest standards of health and safety across its global catering operations.

Robin Padgett, divisional senior vice president of dnata catering, said: “The combined ACA/IFSA guidelines ensure another layer of guidance, providing an industry-wide reference point to complement the strict COVID-19 procedures and processes implemented by us at the global and local level.

“Importantly, passengers can remain confident that our products and services are provided with the utmost attention to health and safety.”

Launched in early February, the ACA/IFSA guidance provides a sensible approach to implementation, highlighting ways in which individual locations and processes can best be re-engineered to meet the updated health and safety standards.

Tanzanian duty free concession for Lagardère Travel Retail

Lagardère Travel Retail is set to expand its footprint in Africa after being awarded the concession to operate two duty free stores in the new terminal at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.

It and local partner, Bevco Limited, will build and operate the outlets in the brand new Terminal 3 at the gateway to capital city, Dar es Salaam.

Frédéric Chevalier, COO EMEA at Lagardère Travel Retail, said: “We have significant growth ambitions for our operations on the African continent and hope our experience in Tanzania will continue to consolidate our position as a leading international travel retailer in the region.”

New era for Zoeftig

Airport seating specialist, Zoeftig, is once again a privately owned company after being wholly purchased by Paul and Mandy Williams.

With over 50 years experience in the design, manufacture and supply of intelligent seating solutions, Zoeftig is renowned throughout the transport sectors across the globe for its high quality construction and innovation.

According to the new owners, the repurchasing of the entire business, which was formally under the ownership of Figueras Seating Solutions, will drive the continued success and expansion of the Zoeftig brand worldwide.

Paul and Mandy Williams said: “We are delighted to announce Zoeftig’s return to being a privately owned company. Over the last 15 years, the senior management team and ourselves have significantly expanded Zoeftig’s reputation and reach across the world. The decision to repurchase the entire business will enable us to drive this growth even further.”

In addition to the aviation market, Zoeftig subsidiary, SIS Global Seating, provides auditorium seating solutions for the education, theatre and sports industries.