Sky Logistics eyes partnership with HK’s Jardine

MANILA, Philippines—Sky Logistics, one of Philippine Airlines’ three subcontractors, is eyeing foreign help to improve its capability to serve the flag carrier, its sole client.

Sky Logistics president Rory Sepulveda said the company was in talks for a possible tie up with Jardine Airport Services Ltd., which operates at the Hong Kong International Airport, one of the world’s busiest terminals.

“Jardine Airport Services is one of the world’s best airport service providers,” Sepulveda said in a statement on Monday.

“We’re honored that it has taken interest in our modest operations. We hope we could reach an agreement soon so that our customer, PAL, and its millions of passengers can benefit from their expertise,” he said.

Sky Logistics took over PAL’s airport service operations at the start of the month as part of the airline’s controversial outsourcing scheme that involved the sacking of 2,600 workers. Sky Logistics’ sister firm Sky Kitchen took over PAL’s in-flight catering, while SPi Global Holdings took over the airline’s call centers.

PAL’s still operates significantly below its normal capacity due to the inability of the service providers to fully replace the retrenched workers.

Sepulveda said the company’s talks with the Jardine group were still in its “initial stages,” but if a deal is forged, a partnership would allow the company to serve PAL fully.

He said Jardine managing director Enoch Lam and two of his “key lieutenants” recently toured PAL’s hub at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 with the Sky Logistics team.

The foreign group observed ramp operations, cargo and passenger handling and took note of how these can be improved based on their experience at HKIA.

Sepulveda said Jardine plays a key role in the smooth operations of the HKIA, which was voted as the world’s best airport by a survey last March conducted by Skytrax. Last year, the 13-year old HKIA was also recognized as the world’s busiest airport by cargo traffic.