Airport Authority signs aircraft ramp handling services franchise agreement with Hong Kong Airport Services Limited

(HONG KONG, 18 September 1996) -- The Airport Authority (AA) today signed an agreement with Hong Kong Airport Services Limited (HAS) to provide aircraft ramp handling services at Hong Kong's new airport.

This is the second aircraft ramp handling service franchise agreement to be signed by the Airport Authority. The term of the franchise agreement is 10 years from airport opening.

HAS' services at Chek Lap Kok will be located at two areas of the terminal building -- the South Concourse and the Southwest Concourse --covering a total of approximately 2,307 square metres. HAS is a joint venture of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited and Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited.

Ramp handling services include the loading and unloading of air cargo, mail, baggage and other properties between aircraft and the passenger terminal, cargo terminal and airmail centre, and between aircraft; preparation for delivery onto aircraft of bulk baggage and baggage containers; aircraft loading bridge operation; aircraft marshalling and passenger stairs operations.

In accordance with the agreed minutes signed by the British and Chinese representatives of the Joint Liaison Group in May this year, the ramp handling franchise agreement states that three franchises may be awarded. Following today's signing with HAS, and an earlier one with Ogden Aviation (Hong Kong) Limited, another ramp handling services franchise agreement with Jardine Air Terminal Services Limited will be signed soon.

Ref. PR-234