Inflight caterer diversifies business operations to boost revenues

National Airport Services (NAS) Kenya, the inflight caterer that serves national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has expanded its operations to include corporate catering and laundry services as the company seeks extra sources of revenue and to cut overdependence on its core source of income.

With the entry of German inflight caterer LSG Sky Chefs into the Kenyan market, NAS is facing increased competition for business which has led to the company to explore extra options.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday as the company celebrated it’s 70th anniversary at NAS headquarters at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Chairperson Richard Omwela said that the company has invested in a state of the art laundry facility open to any interested parties and is engaging corporates which might be interested in catering services.

“Of course inflight catering is our main business but we have to be strategic, the airline might close its operations tomorrow, what would we do from there? ” posed Omwela.

According to the former Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairperson, the laundry facility is the biggest and most equipped in the country.

Omwela also welcomed LSG’s entry into the Kenyan market and dismissed the idea that the new entrant poses danger to NAS’ business.

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“Competition makes you better. To be able to cut it at top level you have to come up with good products and services,” said Omwela.

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NAS prepares 20,000 meals a day which are then served to customers flying in various airlines that subscribe to the inflight caterer’s services.