Corporate News
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority expanded Phoenix Aviation’s licence allowing it to operate chartered flights to Asia. Photo/FILE
By DAVID HERBLING, hdavid@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
Hong Kong exchange-listed logistics firm
Frontier Services Group’s (FSG) plans to offer chartered passenger and
cargo flights to China have got a major boost after the Kenyan aviation
regulator granted its associate company a licence to fly to Asia.
FSG, whose board chairman is former US Navy Seal Erik Prince, has substantial shareholding in Kenyan company Phoenix Aviation.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on
Friday expanded Phoenix Aviation’s licence allowing it to operate
chartered flights to Asia.
“It opens up new destinations in Asia for Phoenix Aviation’s specialised medical evacuation services,” said FSG in a statement.
“Phoenix Aviation sought to allow themselves the
flexibility of serving the Chinese State-owned Enterprises that FSG
works with.”
Mr Prince, 44, is the founder of Blackwater— the
controversial US defence contractor that at one time came under fierce
criticism over its operations in Iraq.
FSG chief executive Gregg Smith said in an earlier
interview the company was targeting Chinese mining firms with
operations in Africa as major clients for its logistics services.
The KCAA notice published on Friday said Phoenix’s services will be “based at JKIA and Wilson Airport.”
The aviation regulator said the variation of the Phoenix Aviation licence takes “immediate effect.”
The licence positions FSG strategically to tap
business from resource-hungry China whose companies are scouring the
African continent for oil, gas and minerals.
Mr Prince, through his Africa-focused venture
Frontier Service Group Ltd, invested $14 million (Sh1.2 billion) in
Phoenix Aviation, making it his second major deal in Kenya, having
acquired a 49 per cent stake in Kilifi-based Kijipwa Aviation last year.
“We are well acquainted with a number of Chinese
state-owned and private businesses operating in Africa,” FSG said in a
statement.
FSG was formerly known as DVN Holdings Limited and
changed its name to Frontier Services Group Limited in March 2014
through regulatory filings to the Hong Kong bourse.
FSG is eying a slice of the oil and mineral wealth
in Kenya and Africa through provision of passenger and freight services
to oil and mining companies transporting staff, machinery and spare
parts to remote areas such as Lokichar and Lokichoggio in Turkana.
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