The companies said the joint venture would provide consistent service standards for operators between Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere. <\/p>\n
Zurich-based Swissport provides aviation services including ground and cargo handling.<\/p>\n
PrivatPort provides ground-handling expertise for VIP passengers, crews, and private jets, and advice or support for traffic rights and landing permits. <\/p>\n
SO Capital founder Shah Aslam already has aviation interests, including through private jet, freight and charter operator Air Napier, which he owns. <\/p>\n
Air Napier will become the first New Zealand fixed-base operator to join PrivatPort.<\/p>\n
Air Napier chief operating officer Arsel Aslam (right) next to CEO Shah Aslam and Air Napier staff outside the Air Napier Terminal at Hawke’s Bay Airport. Photo \/ Warren Buckland<\/p>\n
Air Napier in 2024 was granted a special licence to clear customs in Hawke\u2019s Bay and run direct international flights<\/a>.<\/p>\n SO Capital and PrivatPort said the deal meant Air Napier would become part of a global network supporting private aircraft flights.<\/p>\n Aslam and PrivatPort global chief executive Josua Hildbrand are expected to sign the deal today.<\/p>\n \u201cDemand for premium and executive travel continues to grow,\u201d Hildbrand said.<\/p>\n The joint-venture partners would build a premium executive network across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, he said.<\/p>\n Aslam said that given the size of the region, the decision to establish the partnership\u2019s Asia-Pacific headquarters in Auckland was significant.<\/p>\n \u201cAuckland Airport is New Zealand\u2019s link to the world and a gateway to the Pacific region,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said SO Capital\u2019s aviation expertise and New Zealand\u2019s trusted regulatory environment made an ideal platform to support international operators while expanding aviation services across Oceania.<\/p>\n The companies said teaming up provided the regional insight and investment capability needed to support demand and drive growth in the sector.<\/p>\n Air Napier has a fleet of five aircraft, including the Cessna Citation Mustang twinjet, which carries four passengers.<\/p>\n Through partners and brokers, it also has access to other aircraft.<\/p>\n Those include the 68-seater ATR 72 turboprop, Dassault Falcon<\/a> 2000 twinjet, and the 50-seater De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprop (Q300).<\/p>\n Other aircraft it uses include an eight-seater Citation and an Airbus<\/a> B3E helicopter.<\/p>\n SO Capital\u2019s portfolio includes Ocean Flyer, a seaglider company<\/a> established to provide sustainable, fully electric coastal travel.<\/p>\n Some electric wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft start journeys with the hull in the water, floating.<\/p>\n As they accelerate, some models use hydrofoils to lift the hull clear of the water to cut drag and, at high speed, the wings generate enough lift to fly.<\/p>\n Swissport said its 2025 revenue was \u20ac3.9 billion ($7.7b) with most of that coming from ground services.<\/p>\n