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Menzies Aviation records $2.6 billion in revenue across its global operations

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‎KUWAIT CITY / UK, Apr 09: Menzies Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and ‎airlines, has announced a record-breaking performance in 2024, marking its fourth consecutive ‎year of double-digit revenue growth. ‎

Reported in its 2024 Annual Review & Sustainability Report, the aviation services provider ‎has delivered strong financial results, with global revenue increasing year-on-year by 20% to ‎‎$2.6 billion, driven by expansion in existing and new markets. ‎

The group also reported a robust EBITDA of $382m (post IFRS16), with a 15% margin, ‎illustrating the strength of its core operations and the sustainability of the business. This enabled ‎increased investment in equipment, technology and training, while providing confidence to ‎customers that it is a reliable, long-term partner.‎

This unparalleled growth reaffirms Menzies as the industry leader and provides a strong footing ‎for future expansion as more airlines and airport partners choose the company as a partner of ‎choice, recognising its safety record, high quality services and agile leadership. ‎

Key highlights: ‎

‎‎tKey deals in Portugal, Hong Kong, Angola and Malaysia helped to strengthen the ‎company’s global footprint to 300 airports in 65 countries.‎

‎‎tExpansion in established markets, such as Serbia and Spain showcased its successful ‎partnerships and strong track record.‎

‎‎tMenzies managed more than 4.8 million flights (2023: 4.5 million), serving over 250 ‎million passengers (2023: 217 million).‎

‎‎tInvestments in existing air cargo facilities as well as in cutting edge technology enabled ‎the company to handle a record 2.4 million tonnes of cargo (2023: 2 million).‎

‎‎tThe launch of its Pearl Elevated Travel brand boosted its service offering, driving 2.8 ‎million guests to its 55 lounges, while Air Menzies International solidified its position as a ‎leading airfreight provider, achieving a 16% year-on-year growth in tonnage.‎

The company also made significant progress toward its ESG goals, with continued efforts to ‎reduce emissions in line with its ambitious Net-Zero 2045 target, demonstrating a commitment to ‎sustainable growth alongside business expansion.‎

Key highlights include:‎

‎‎tIt was the first major aviation services provider to have its net zero targets approved by ‎the Science Based Targets initiative.‎

‎‎tProgress towards its 25% electric Ground Support Equipment (GSE) by 2025 target, with ‎‎22% of its worldwide fleet now electric.‎

‎‎tSecond consecutive year of reducing voluntary staff turnover with a further 5% reduction ‎in 2024, meaning the company is now well below pre-Covid turnover levels.‎

‎‎tReached its goal of 25% of women in senior leadership roles, in line with IATA’s ‎‎25by2025 campaign.‎

‎‎tFinanced over USD $388k towards sustainable development partnerships, community ‎projects, charities and supporting local fundraising by its teams.‎

Hassan El-Houry, Executive Chairman, Menzies Aviation, said: “2024 has been a ‎groundbreaking year for Menzies, marked by double-digit growth and record-breaking ‎milestones in both flights and passengers served, and cargo tonnes handled. As we reflect on ‎these achievements, we take immense pride in leading the way, delivering high-quality aviation ‎services, while upholding the highest standards of safety and security. With passenger numbers ‎expected to surpass 5.2 billion for the first time and more than 40 million flights taking to the ‎skies in 2025, our vision for the future remains clear: to be the world’s leading aviation services ‎provider. We are confident about the future and are committed to responsible expansion, ‎operational excellence, sustainability, and contributing to the powerful and positive force of the ‎aviation industry.”‎

Philipp Joeinig, Group CEO, Menzies Aviation, added: “Strategic expansion has been key to ‎our success over the past four years, resulting in a 41 percent increase in the number of airports ‎we serve and a 71 percent growth in the number of countries since 2021. Our efforts in nurturing ‎strong relationships with our airline customers and airport partners has created a solid foundation ‎for continued success, with new global opportunities at an all-time high. I’m especially proud that ‎we were the first major aviation services business to have our net zero targets approved by the ‎Science Based Targets initiative, reinforcing our commitment to leading from the front and ‎raising the bar in sustainability. Our goal of becoming the undisputed leader in our industry ‎remains central to everything we do, and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey ‎together.”‎

Business

UPAC Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results

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Hamad Malallah

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC), a commercial ‎real estate and facilities management company, today announced its financial results for the second ‎quarter of 2025. For the six months ended June 2025, the company reported net profits of KD 497 ‎thousand, down 62% from 2024, or 0.94 fils per share, with revenues of KD 3.29 million down 25.6% ‎from 2024. ‎

Eng. Hamad Malallah, Chief Executive Officer at UPAC, said: “The second quarter presented a ‎transitional period as we successfully concluded the project to manage and operate Terminal 1 at ‎Kuwait International Airport, officially handing it over to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ‎‎(DGCA) in May 2025. While this shift has naturally impacted the company’s revenues, it also paves ‎the way for new avenues of growth and development as we focus on future projects and strategic ‎partnerships. It is important to note that UPAC built the entire project and operated it throughout the ‎contract term before transferring it to the DGCA under the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) system. ‎We take great pride in the success of this national project over 26-year and in delivering it to the ‎State.”‎

Malallah continued: “I’m pleased to share that in July, we welcomed our first operator at Messilah ‎Beach: Villa Shams, Kuwait’s first ladies-only beach club. Officially opened on 10 July 2025, Villa ‎Shams offers a premium, private experience designed exclusively for women, in a secure and refined ‎setting. This milestone reflects UPAC’s vision to create inclusive recreational environments that cater ‎to all segments of society.”‎

‎“Planning for other areas on the Messilah Beach site has also been progressing steadily. Our teams ‎are actively working alongside confirmed operators, both global and local brands, to support their ‎on-ground preparations for upcoming openings with a list of exciting tenants. We are looking forward ‎to be bringing an exceptional, family-friendly beach destination experience to Kuwait through ‎Messilah Beach, which is set to become a vibrant, year-round destination,” added Malallah. ‎

Malallah concluded: “We remain committed to identifying and pursuing strategic business ‎opportunities within our industry that drive growth and create value for the company and its ‎shareholders.”‎

Al Messilah Beach, one of Kuwait’s prime family entertainment destinations, was developed by ‎Touristic Enterprises Company as part of its role in spearheading growth of Kuwait’s tourism sector. ‎UPAC is managing all aspects of the site including leasing, entertainment activities, facility ‎management, and overall project operations.‎

UPAC is a co-investor in Abu Dhabi’s $1.3 billion Reem Mall on Reem Island. Reem Mall is Abu ‎Dhabi’s latest signature shopping, dining, and entertainment family destination spanning an ‎impressive 183.4K sqm GLA. Anchored by a hyper-market and various notable entertainment and ‎home furnishing concepts, the mall will be home to around 400 international and local brands. Snow ‎Abu Dhabi, one of the mall’s entertainment anchors, is the city’s only snow park. The mall also has ‎one of the largest home furnishing offerings in Abu Dhabi as well as one of the largest Carrefour ‎outlets in the city. One of the prominent new openings was Sharaf DG, an expansive 3,334sqm ‎electronics retail space with 34 brand experience zones making it the largest store of its kind in Abu ‎Dhabi.‎

The mall is one of the region’s first fully integrated omnichannel retail ecosystems with digital, e-‎commerce, and logistics capabilities. It brings together all consumer and retail services to ensure a ‎seamless customer experience. ‎

As of June 2025, around 66% of GLA is open and trading, with an additional 14% under fit-‎out, bringing the effective leased GLA to 80%. As of date, Reem Mall has also secured signed ‎proposals covering a further 4% of GLA. Key performance metrics continue to show strong ‎momentum, with footfall and tenant sales increasing by 30% to 40% year-on-year. Notably, the mall ‎achieved two consecutive record-breaking months in May and June 2025, setting new highs for both ‎visitor numbers and sales.‎

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Asian shares mixed after days of gains driven by hopes for US rate cuts

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SEL101

Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), left, and the foreign exchange rate between US dollar and South Korean won at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug 14. (AP)

MANILA, Philippines, Aug 14, (AP): Asian shares were mixed on Thursday after days of gains driven by hopes for lower US interest rates, while US futures slipped. Bitcoin rose more than 3% to a new record of over $123,000, according to CoinDesk. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.3% to 42,705.36 as investors sold to lock in recent gains that have taken the benchmark to all-time records.

The Japanese yen rose against the dollar after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg that Japan was “behind the curve” in monetary tightening. He was referring to the slow pace of increases in Japan’s near-zero interest rates. Low interest rates tend to make the yen weaker against the dollar, giving Japanese exporters a cost advantage in overseas sales.

The dollar fell to 146.31 Japanese yen early Thursday, down from 147.39 yen. The euro fell to $1.1703 from $1.1705. In Chinese markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index shed less than 0.2% to 25,655.26, while the Shanghai composite index added 0.1% to 3,686.07. South Korea’s Kospi fell less than 0.1% to 3,222.99, while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 index added 0.5% to 8,866.70. Taiwan’s TAIEX fell 0.5%, while India’s Sensex edged 0.1% higher.

“Asian markets opened today like a party that ran out of champagne before midnight – the music still playing, but the dance floor thinning out,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down less than 0.1%. On Wednesday, US stocks ticked higher, extending a global rally fueled by hopes the Federal Reserve will cut USinterest rates.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,466.58, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow climbed 1% to 44,922.27, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to its own record set the day before, closing at 21,713.14. Treasury yields eased in the bond market in anticipation that the Fed will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September. 

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Essentials win, construction slides in H1 subsidy shuffle

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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13: Subsidies for basic food supplies, milk and baby food, and construction materials increased by 0.9 percent during the first half of 2025, rising by KD 1.6 million compared to the subsidies for construction materials in the same period of 2024. The total value of subsidies reached KD 181.7 million, including KD 95.5 million for construction materials (52.4 percent), KD 77.5 million for basic materials (42.6 percent), and KD 8.8 million for milk and baby food (5 percent) of the total food subsidies during the first half of the year.

Official statistics from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that approximately 2.3 million individuals benefited from cumulative subsidies by the end of June 2025, along with the registration of about 272,134 cumulative ration cards during the same period.

Detailed data show that subsidies for basic commodities disbursed through ration cards during the first half of the year increased by 14.3 percent, about KD 11.1 million, compared to KD 66.4 million in the same period last year. Subsidies for milk and baby food rose by 18 percent (KD 1.6 million) this year, up from KD 7.2 million in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, subsidies for construction materials declined by 10.5 percent (KD 11.2 million) to KD 95.2 million, compared to KD 106.4 million in the first half of last year.

Statistics also recorded that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry supported food commodities in June with a total of KD 32 million, of which KD 17 million (55 percent) was allocated to basic commodities, which is a 26 percent increase compared to May. Milk and baby food subsidies totaled about KD 2 million, representing 7 percent of the total subsidies disbursed and marking an 84 percent increase compared to the previous month. Subsidies for construction materials amounted to approximately KD 12 million, accounting for 39 percent of the total disbursed and reflecting a 24 percent decrease compared to May.

Data from the Construction Supply Department for June 2025 showed that 333 new requests for subsidized construction materials were issued, which is a 46 percent decrease compared to the previous month. Renewals of subsidized construction material transactions numbered 26, down ten percent, while three requests for exchanging subsidized materials were submitted, a 67 percent decrease. Requests for certificates of receipt of materials totaled 26, a four percent increase, and requests for certificates of non-receipt of materials reached 72, a three percent increase.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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