Goldair Handling Invests €11m for Green Equipment, Plans to Expand to Serbia

Despite challenges this year, Goldair Handling maintained its leading position in the markets where it operates, invested 11 million euros for eco-friendly ground support equipment and plans to expand to Serbia, according to the company’s recent report on 2023.

Goldair Handling, which provides airport handling services, is a subsidiary of Goldair, one of the largest group of companies engaged in the fields of tourism and transport in Greece.

According to the company’s report , the number of flights served this year at the 26 Greek airports where the company operates reached 2019 pre-covid levels. Compared to 2022, the flights served this year were also significantly increased by 9 percent.

However, the report said that the lack of staff at airports with high business activity – an international problem for the industry in recent years – created “irregularities in the smooth service of passengers and aircraft during the peak months, with a significant increase in the cost of offered services”. Moreover, Goldair said that recovery is not the same in the markets where the company operates.

In Bulgaria, where the company serves three international airports, results are uneven as passenger traffic in Sofia saw a 14 percent increase compared to 2022 while a 35 percent drop was recorded in the seasonal stations of Varna and Burgas due to the the war in Ukraine.

In Cyprus, Goldair Handling proceeded to acquire the majority stake in LGS Handling, renaming it to Goldair Handling Cyprus.

In Zurich, Goldair’s service for people with disabilities (PWD) increased by 5 percent compared to 2019. However, compared to 2022 there was a significant increase of 36 percent.

In India, Goldair now maintains a presence at two airports (Bagdogra & Udaipur) through the Goldair-LAS joint venture, expanding market share with new customers.

Entry into Serbia, fleet renewal, lounge investments

Growing its international network for another year, Goldair Handling on December 20 will begin operations in the Serbian market, at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport through its subsidiary Goldair Handling Serbia.

Regarding the investment plan to renew its ground equipment fleet, Goldair Handling made an investment of 11 million euros for new buses and runway equipment, which mostly operate with sustainable energy sources.

Regarding the lounges it runs, Goldair opened a new lounge at Corfu Airport and is preparing a new lounge at Rhodes Airport. Moreover, the company has plans to refurbish its lounges at Athens International Airport (AIA) and Mykonos Airport.

Goldair’s report also provided updates on its companies that operate in the fields of cargo and logistics.

Goldair Cargo maintains profitability

Despite huge increases in fuel and energy costs, Goldair Cargo managed to maintain its profitability, thanks to prudent management and the use of digital tools.

The company maintained a stable the number of shipments and the total volume of cargo handled, despite the reduced availability of means of transport due to the war in Ukraine, but also the great shortage of drivers in Europe.

13-million-euro investment for cargo facility in Aspropyrgos

Goldair also completed its investment on Crete and is now running a new 4,000-square-meter cargo management warehouse at the Heraklion Industrial Area, expanding the services it provides to its customers and strengthening its turnover. The company also proceeded with an investment of 13 million euros to purchase a new, modern, covered storage facility in Aspropyrgos, Attica, with an area of 14,000 sq.m.

Logistics: Thriasio Freight Center project now in full swing

Goldair is part of a contracting consortium for a project in Thriasio, Western Attica, that is expected to change the logistics map of Greece, according to industry insiders.

Having reached the final stretch for the licensing of Greece’s largest logistics project, the company is preparing to launch a tender for the contractor that will build the freight center in Thriasio.

According to Goldair, the file for the licensing of the large investment, expected to reach 220 million euros, has been submitted to the Ministry of Development. Thus, in 2024, the construction of the project is expected to start and is said to be the second largest investment made in Attica after Hellinikon.

Once completed, Goldair aspires to make Greece the center of combined transport and storage in Southeast Europe.

“The unique characteristics of the center will give new dynamics to the logistics sector in Attica, while it will be able to serve a wide range of international and European clientele with increased and special requirements, making our country a pole of attraction for complex activities in the field of transportation and light processing,” the company said in its report.

Goldair also operates in the fields of airline representation, aviation security services and rail cargo, among others.