MASIL, a joint venture between Menzies Aviation, Iraqi Airways, Air BP Limited, and Al Burhan Group, began operations at Baghdad International Airport in January after being awarded an exclusive contract by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) for the delivery of a full suite of ground handling, cargo and fuelling services at the airport. This was the first license of its kind to be awarded by the ICAA to a foreign aviation services company.

A team of 65 MASIL employees will provide cargo services at Iraq’s largest airport to customers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, DHL, MNG Airlines, Silk Way Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air, flydubai and Middle East Airlines.

Under the Cargo Go Live initiative, and in line with MASIL joint venture partners’ plans to enhance customer experience and safety standards at the airport, employees will be undertaking a range of Menzies Aviation cargo training modules, including dangerous goods, safety management, security and specialised handling techniques.

As part of MASIL’s long-term strategy for developing a cargo centre of excellence at Baghdad International Airport, MASIL will look to enhance the safety and sustainability of operations as well as compliance and accountability. The JV partners will also implement advanced and bespoke technological systems that will streamline the cargo handling process.

Menzies Aviation Charles Wyley, EVP Middle East, Asia and Africa said: “We are delighted that our cargo operations have now gone live at Baghdad International Airport, following a lot of hard work and dedication from the MASIL team.

“As we begin to support our cargo customers at Baghdad, we are also delivering against our objective of developing the airport’s operating procedures and training schemes.

“Our cargo manifesto, which sets out our strategy for developing a world-class air cargo facility, will see us sharing our deep experience and knowledge to build a safe, compliant and sustainable cargo operation at Baghdad.”

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The growth meant that the airport handled 74,000 tonnes of cargo while full cargo traffic grew by 73% with the growth shared by all airlines. The growth in express services of 65% was due to the extra routes added by DHL Express in 2020 and the increase in demand for e-commerce shipments, with trucked freight also up by 43%.

However, the cargo growth was mirrored by a 91% decrease in passenger numbers, as 186,924 passengers travelled via the airport following a ban on all non-essential travel that was imposed on Belgium in January and which is in place until 18 April.

Arnaud Feist, chief executive officer, Brussels Airport Company, said: “The last twelve months have been particularly difficult for the airline industry; the few periods of cautious recovery have always been short-lived, and now we are always faced with a ban on non-essential travel.

“The 19^th of April will therefore be a crucial date for the sector, the long-awaited start of the gradual recovery that we hope can now be rolled out for the duration. It is therefore important that, from that moment on, travel to countries where the health situation is comparable to or better than in Belgium, is made possible, provided that Covid tests are carried out on departure and/or arrival.

“This will not immediately lead to mass travel, but it will be an important first step towards the recovery of a sector that has been hard hit by this crisis for over a year. Vaccination and the digital green certificate remain the only essential means to return to normal activity.”

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