Menzies Aviation has acquired a controlling stake in Agunsa Aviation Services, which provides full ground and air cargo handling services in Santiago, Chile.
Agunsa Aviation Services was a wholly owned subsidiary of Agencias Universales SA, a large and diverse Chilean business with a long history in logistics, originally in shipping logistics, and in more recent years in aviation.
Agunsa provides full ground handling and air cargo handling services to several major international airlines at Santiago de Chile Airport (SCL), including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Qatar Airways.
It also operates a 110,000 sq ft on-airport cargo warehouse, with the ability at SCL to handle a combination of import cargo, export cargo and courier products.
This new Chilean business will complement Menzies’ existing operations in five other countries in Central and South America including Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Philipp Joeinig, chief executive, Menzies Aviation, said: “I am excited to enter our sixth country in Latin America and strengthen relationships with some of our largest global airline partners. We have found a unique partner in Agencias Universales SA, which has a long and successful history as a leader in logistics in the region and we are looking forward to expanding our business and footprint with our new partner.”
Fernando Rodriguez, chief executive, Agencias Universales, said: “We are very pleased to enter this new partnership with Menzies Aviation and work with their team to build a market leading business across Chile and beyond. This deal will help accelerate the growth ambitions of both businesses.”
In March, Menzies recommended to shareholders a takeover offer from Agility subsidiary National Aviation Services (NAS) that values the company at £571m.
