Op Ed: How Menzies Aviation Ensures Reliability and Safety While Navigating Uncertainty

Aviation has always lived with volatility. From shifting market dynamics, geopolitical conflicts and operational pressures, our sector is shaped by external forces that often emerge quickly and demand an equally rapid and agile response.

Recent events in the Middle East are a stark reminder that disruption can arise suddenly and ripple across an interconnected global system: more than 37,000 flights have been cancelled due to airspace closures, and global air capacity has fallen by around 18-20% in the weeks following the crisis.

In such moments, the expectations placed on aviation service providers increase dramatically. Airlines and airports rely on partners who can deliver consistent, safe and reliable operations – not only in extraordinary moments, but day after day. That reliability becomes the true measure of leadership.

For Menzies Aviation, 2025 was a year that demonstrated the strength of this commitment. Our network grew, our capabilities matured, and our teams proved, through their actions, that resilience is not just a claim but earned through performance. In 2025, our revenue reached $3 billion, up from $2.6 billion in 2024, representing 16% year-on-year growth.

It was a milestone year for our organization, one that underscored the importance of scale and structure in supporting a more stable, predictable global aviation system. With operations across 347 airports in 65 countries, our footprint gives us reach, flexibility and the ability to deploy resources where they are needed most.

Scale is more than geography. Our teams supported 5.3 million total aircraft turns, including 1.6 million ground handling turns and 3.7 million fueling turns, each growing between 7-9% year-on-year. This scale delivers precision, speed and resilience, but what matters most is how effectively it is used.

Throughout 2025, our teams worked in close coordination to meet our customers’ needs, support rapid changes in schedules and staffing and strengthen service performance across regions. We added 63 airports to our network last year, including major wins in Miami, JFK New Terminal One, and new licenses across Europe and South Asia. Redeploying skilled people, sharing best practices and optimizing equipment allocation has enabled us to keep operations steady even as conditions evolve. We’ve also worked closely with our airline and airport partners to anticipate operational pressures and protect service continuity. These are the quiet but essential strengths that underpin reliable operations at global scale.

Safety has always been the foundation of how we operate. Our MORSE safety culture has guided our business for decades and continue to guide our decisions as we grow. In 2025, network expansion was matched by a 50% reduction in Personal Injury CAT A cases since 2023 and a 25% reduction in CAT A & B aircraft damage since 2024.

This demonstrates that growth and safety can advance together. During crisis periods, they also serve as anchors. Safety gives teams confidence; security protects operational integrity and consistent quality builds customer trust. These fundamentals are not negotiable; they are the basis on which long-term partnerships are built.

The real power behind these principles lies in our people. Our 65,000-member team has shown extraordinary professionalism over the past year. Their ability to adapt, support each other and maintain high standards across shifting operational environments is what makes Menzies strong. Their resilience is the foundation of ours, and I am proud of the commitment they continue to show, particularly those working in regions experiencing heightened operational and geopolitical strain. 

While crises inevitably draw attention, they should not define our outlook. Aviation continues to be a growth industry. At the start of the year, 5.2 billion passengers and 71.6 million tonnes of cargo were forecast for 2026, and while these numbers may be impacted by current world events, the long-term fundamentals of the sector remain strong. Passenger demand will return; throughout history, every major disruption has been followed by a rebound, a pattern that speaks to the industry’s enduring resilience. Growth will favor those who build responsibly and invest in the systems that enable stability, not those who chase expansion for its own sake.

That is why our investments in technology, training, automation and workforce planning are designed with this in mind. They strengthen the core of our business, create the capacity to absorb shocks, the ability to respond with agility, and the confidence our partners need in uncertain times. Across ground handling, fueling, cargo and executive services, resilience comes from the fundamentals: strong systems, a disciplined culture, and teams that execute reliably, shift after shift, everywhere we operate.

As we look ahead, our message to our customers is straightforward: in periods of uncertainty, we will continue to stand with you. Our scale gives us reach. Our people give us strength. And our commitment to safety, reliability and responsible growth ensure that you can count on us – when operations run smoothly, and especially when they don’t.

Hassan El Houry is executive chairman at Menzies Aviation