Airlink distances itself from Menzies’ claims

South African aviation outfit Airlink has distanced itself from claims that it shared confidential information about Paragon Investment Holdings workers with Menzies Aviation.

This comes after Menzies, through its country manager Emile Smith, claimed in court papers that he received information from Airlink that Paragon workers are not certified to provide airport ground-handling services.

Airlink’s managing director Rodgers Foster admitted that there were discussions between Menzies and Airlink about concerns regarding the timing of a possible discontinuity of Menzies’ services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) and the back-to-back assumption of these services by Paragon.

He, however, indicated that the concerns were limited to a broad range of compliance elements.

“These were informal confidential conversations within various levels of management hierarchy. At no time did [Airlink regional manager for ground operations, Ann Miller] nor Airlink consent to any of the exchange of confidential information being used in Menzies’ court papers. Neither Airlink nor Miller were approached by Menzies or their legal representatives for consent, and no confirmatory affidavit by either Airlink or Miller exists,” he said yesterday.

He is referring to a court battle in which the Windhoek High Court will today decide whether Menzies should continue offering ground-handling services at the country’s biggest airport, or whether it should pack its bags and make way for locally-owned Paragon.

He said, she said

“If they [Paragon staff] do have the training, it had lapsed as a result of the fact that they were not continuously operationally employed. I know this because I was informed by Ann Miller from Airlink,” Smith said in court papers filed this week.

According to him, Miller also informed Menzies that Airlink had requested Paragon to prove that its staff members are properly trained and are in possession of valid airport certification.

The senior Airlink employee accused of sharing confidential information about Paragon staff members has distanced herself from the saga.

Miller went as far as presenting a sworn affidavit denying that such information was presented on behalf of Airlink to Menzies.

In her statement under oath, seen by Namibian Sun, she said: “I have at no point been in discussions with Menzies with regards to certification of Paragon staff. Menzies is to refrain from including me and Airlink [in] this ongoing court dispute”.

‘Cocktail of anger’

Paragon’s lawyer Sisa Namandje on Tuesday wrote to Menzies’ legal team, demanding that they remove the allegations ascribed to Miller from the affidavit.

He added: “Our client is of the view that your client is dangerously consumed by a colossal cocktail of anger, grudge and commercial greed”.

“And unless it immediately stops this, the ongoing multiple and yet abusive proceedings may become a crisis of monumental proportions,” he wrote.

Imminent deal

Meanwhile, Airlink and Paragon are in the process of signing a service agreement which will pave the way for the latter to provide ground-handling services to the airline at HKIA, Namibian Sun has learnt.

This was revealed yesterday by Airlink while responding to questions from this publication.

“A service agreement between Paragon and Airlink is in the final stages of negotiation and an operational safety audit is being arranged on an urgent basis,” Miller said.

Paragon has faced a barrage of criticism from its competitor, which continues to claim that it does not have the required experience and equipment to provide ground-handling services.

According to Airlink, it will work closely with Namibia’s regulators, the Namibia Airports Company and Paragon to avoid disruption of air services.

Safety first

Miller added: “Airlink does not purport to assume the operational safety function of the regulator responsible for operational safety oversight.

“However, it is incumbent on Airlink - as a duly licenced and certified air operator under the jurisdiction of the South African regulator, and in terms of the international standards and protocols of the International Air Transport Association operational safety audit programme, of which Airlink is a qualified member - to have in place handling and service level agreements.”

Airlink is also obligated to perform operational safety audits on HKIA and its appointed ground-handling service provider to ensure absolute competence prior to any handling activities are performed on and around its aircraft, she said.

She added that the audit will ensure that appropriate personnel training has been performed by a recognised training institution and is duly certified and up to date.