South African non-governmental mission specialist Rossair Contracts has expanded its fleet after winning a key contract in Kenya as it continues restructuring.
The Johannesburg-based company has increased its fleet by seven aircraft to meet the demands of a three-year, €25 million ($30 million) contract from the European Union's humanitarian aid office ECHO for relief flights in East Africa.
The aircraft will be operated by Rossair's Nairobi-based sister company Rossair Kenya under a wet-lease deal for ECHO Flight, which assists agencies working in the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region of Africa.
The contract, which started officially in May, is for six aircraft, plus an additional standby machine and covers three years. Rossair refuses to disclose the value of the deal, but the EU's annual budget last year for ECHO Flight was €8.4 million.
Rossair Contracts managing director, Ian du Rand, says the company is still in talks with banks aimed to restructure the group. "We have won several new contracts as well as ECHO recently and we are lifting our own way out of our problems," says du Rand.
The Rossair group, which also includes an executive charter arm and a maintenance facility at Johannesburg Lanseria airport, flies 44 aircraft, including ATR 42s, Beechcraft 1900B/C/Ds and King Airs, Cessna Citations, Douglas DC3-TPs, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter DHC-6s and Learjet 35As.
Source: Flight International
