Beyond Ground Handling: SAHCO outlines diversification into new aviation value lines for 2026

Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to operational excellence, ethics in action, innovation, and sustainable growth as it reflects on a successful 2025 and outlines its strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond.

In a New Year message issued on behalf of the Chairman, Board of Directors, and Executive Management, the company expressed appreciation to its customers for their continued patronage and trust throughout 2025, noting that customer partnership remains central to SAHCO’s existence and long-term success.

Management stated that the company would continue to listen closely to customers, deliver excellent service, and consistently exceed expectations in the years ahead.

SAHCO also acknowledged the support of stakeholders and partner governmental agencies, stating that their collaboration played a critical role in enabling the company to serve customers more effectively and achieve shared objectives.

Commenting on internal achievements, the company praised the dedication and professionalism of its staff nationwide, attributing key operational milestones in 2025 to their teamwork and commitment.

These milestones included the successful renewal of the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certifications. SAHCO further confirmed that its Regulated Agent (RA3) certification remains valid until 2027, while its Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) and Quality Management System (QMS) certifications were renewed in 2025.

The company disclosed that its Training School Authorization was also renewed and that plans are underway to expand the school and enhance curriculum offerings in 2026 in line with global best practices.

SAHCO announced that several new airline customers were onboarded in 2025, including Ethiopian Airlines, Air Tanzania, Air Algérie as well as ValueJet Airlines and United Nigeria Airlines’ regional routes alongside their existing domestic routes, in addition to Pioneer Airlines, Binani Airlines, ExeJet/Enugu Air, and Air Peace on its Antigua and Barbados operations.

The company further revealed that its performance in 2025 earned it multiple industry recognitions, including the FAAN Safety Excellence Award, the Aircraft Handling Service Achievement Award from NIGAV, Aviation Service Provider of the Year from the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Best Ground Support Service Company of the Year at the Nigeria International Air Show, and GSE Certification of Recognition from IATA.

In addition, British Airways recognized SAHCO’s Abuja Station with a Bronze Award and its Lagos Station with a Gold Award for Punctuality and Safety across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific regions.

In line with its sustainability agenda, SAHCO stated that it commenced the phased replacement of ageing equipment with eco-friendly alternatives in 2025 and would continue the initiative in 2026 while maintaining full environmental and sustainability compliance across its facilities.

Looking ahead, SAHCO disclosed that its 2026 strategy will focus on operational excellence, revenue growth, and business expansion.

Key initiatives include expanding cargo offerings, strengthening partnerships with state airports, pursuing new certifications, deepening engagement with local, regional, and international airline partners, and enhancing customer engagement strategies and diversifications into new business lines across the Aviation value chain.

The company explained that these priorities are anchored on its “4Ps Strategy” for 2026—People, Process, Performance, and Platform.

According to management, the strategy is designed to build a highly skilled, safety-driven workforce, standardize and enforce operating procedures, leverage data-driven analytics to improve performance and revenue, and develop an integrated digital and operational platform that connects people, processes, equipment, and data.

The company reaffirmed that as it steps into 2026, it remains focused on reimagining excellence with ethics at the core, innovation in action, and adaptation for sustainable success.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.

She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.

She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.

As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.

She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.

Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.

She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.

She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.

Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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