AVIAPARTNER WINS RAMP LICENCE 

Brussels – 1 February 2007 – Aviapartner, Europe’s leading independent ground handler, is proud to announce that it has obtained an extension of its handling licence at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, for a period of 7 years (starting 1 January 2007), within the framework of a tender process launched in June 2006.

Aviapartner has been granted a full licence for baggage handling and ramp handling including marshalling, parking support (blocks), ground to air communication, loading and unloading of aircraft, crew transport, passenger transport, baggage transport between aircraft and terminal, pushback and towing, ground power, catering transport and catering (off)loading.

During the tender process, Aviapartner received the most airline votes, including from easyJet and Lufthansa, two of its main customers at the station. Aviapartner’s customer portfolio at the station also includes (in alphabetical order) Air Nostrum, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, bmi, SAS Braathens, Brussels Airlines, Europe Airpost, Portugalia, Royal Air Maroc, and Transavia.

Aviapartner has been present at the airport of Nice Côte d’Azur since 1999, when it took over the group Elia, which operated at this airport. In total, the group operates at 38 airports in Europe, among which 25 airports where it holds a ramp handling licence.

Note to editors:

Aviapartner Group

Aviapartner, whose origins date back to 1949, and which is headquartered in Brussels, is the leading independent ground handler in Continental Europe. Its main shareholder is 3i, a world leader in private equity and venture capital. The Aviapartner group provides a wide range of services at 32 airports in 5 European countries. In 2005, it served 913,000 tons of cargo, 22 million passengers, and provided ramp handling for some 210,000 aircraft. The group generated a turnover of 275 million €. Aviapartner employs more than 4,900 staff.

More information on www.aviapartner.aero.

For further information, please contact:

Christine Karels, Communications Manager, Aviapartner Head Office - Heidestraat 32; B-1930 Zaventem (Belgium)
Tel.: + 32 (0) 2 723 03 84 – Fax: + 32 (0)2 723 09 81 – Mobile: +32 (0)476 90 01 16
Email: christine.karels@aviapartner.aero