Niël Terblanché
In acknowledgement of its stellar service quality, Paragon Aviation Services (PAS), operating at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) in Namibia, has been honoured with a series of prestigious awards from the Lufthansa Group.
The German national airline, through its subsidiary Discover Airlines, recognized PAS for its exceptional service offerings.
PAS, the licensed ground handling service provider at HKIA, offers a range of services including Passenger Services, Ramp and Baggage Handling, Cargo Services, Meet and Greet, and Private Aircraft Charter Services.
Discover Airlines particularly commended PAS for delivering these services in a safe, secure, and timely manner.
The award ceremony, which took place on 28 January 2024, in Windhoek saw the presence of Thomas Stein, Regional Manager of Ground Operations for Africa from the Lufthansa Group, and Paul Havenga, Windhoek Station Manager for Discover Airlines.
This event marked a significant milestone for PAS, which began its ground-handling operations at HKIA on August 19, 2023.
PAS has been instrumental in stabilizing the ground-handling environment at HKIA, especially following its critical takeover last year.
Currently, the company efficiently handles approximately 87 scheduled flight turnarounds weekly, serving over 1400 passengers daily.
As the sole Namibian Civil Aviation Authority Regulated Agent, EU, and UK RA3 certified cargo screener and handler, PAS also plays a crucial role in cargo management.
Desmond Amunyela, Executive Director of Paragon Aviation Services, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stressing the company’s commitment to excellence.
Amunyela lauded the dedication of the company’s all-Namibian workforce. He also praised them for their role in pushing boundaries and innovating logistics solutions.
The accolades from the Lufthansa Group extended beyond operational excellence. The Paragon Premium Business Lounge at HKIA was also awarded for its exceptional services to Business Class and Loyalty Club members.
Additionally, several PAS employees and departments received individual recognition for their outstanding contributions to customer service.
The award categories included exceptional service in ground handling, baggage management, ticketing, and customer service.
Among the individual awardees were Roberto Hendrickse for his exemplary leadership in station operations, and Helena Andreas and Lugodhi Shihepo for their roles as Passenger Services Team Leaders. Eddy Mangomou, Joel Gerald, and Mukuve Petrus were recognized for their coordination skills, while Anna Ngaivalwa and Albertina Virenga were honoured for their exceptional customer service.
According to Amunyela, the awards are a good testament to PAS’s unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
The coveted excellent service awards from the Lufthansa Group established the Namibian-owned and operated company as a competitive aviation ground handler in the region and beyond.
