If uncertainty is the new normal, how do we stay ready? 

Periods of crisis tend to reveal what matters most. Recent developments in the Middle East have highlighted, once again, that aviation depends on the strength and stability of the people and organisations who keep operations moving. Resilience is not something you switch on when disruption appears. It is built gradually, through disciplined strategy and investment. 

For Menzies Aviation, 2025 was defined by exactly that focus. We set out to grow in the right places, to deepen customer partnerships, and to develop a network capable of supporting airlines and airports through both expansion and volatility. The past few months have shown why this approach matters. 

Today, our network spans 347 airports across 65 countries, including 63 new airports added last year. That growth reflects opportunity, yes, but it also gives us the ability to respond quickly when regional pressures emerge, whether those pressures involve disrupted schedules, shifting cargo flows or staffing challenges driven by changes on the ground. Resilience comes from having options, and our network creates those options for our customers. 

Our operational performance also strengthened that foundation. In 2025, we managed 1.6 million aircraft turns, 3.7 million fuel turns and handled 2.4 million tonnes of cargo, maintaining a 90% customer retention rate. Our retention reflects one thing above all else: the trust our teams earn through reliable, day‑in, day‑out delivery. During moments of crisis or uncertainty, customers value stability above all else, and that is what we have worked to build. 

But resilience is not only about responding quickly. It is about providing our teams with the tools and training to maintain quality and safety under pressure. Over the past year, we have invested in technology, automation, ground support equipment electrification and workforce planning, reinforcing the systems that underpin consistent operations. These investments ensure that our teams have the tools and training they need to operate safely and confidently in changing environments. 

Safety remains our most important responsibility. Crises do not excuse shortcuts. In times of disruption, our global safety frameworks ensure we maintain consistent standards while giving teams clear processes to rely on. This is what transforms a large network into a resilient one: when everyone, everywhere, knows what “good” looks like and how to deliver it. 

The Middle East, a region central to global aviation, has been a particular focus of our efforts to maintain operational continuity. Our teams across the region have worked closely with airlines and airport partners to anticipate challenges, adjust capacities and communicate proactively. It is a reminder that resilience is also built on relationships and on the trust earned over years of working side by side. 

Looking to 2026, the aviation sector is poised for continued growth, but it will not be without its challenges. Our ambition is to scale sustainably, guided by the principles that have served us well: thoughtful expansion, investment in capability, a deep commitment to safety, and a partnership-driven approach to customers. 

True resilience shows in our readiness to respond when pressure inevitably arrives. At Menzies, we are committed to building the systems, culture and capabilities that ensure we remain a partner airlines and airports can rely on, during the highs of growth and the difficulties of crisis. 

The industry will continue to evolve. So will we. And through that evolution, our focus remains unchanged: to deliver dependable, safe and responsible operations for the customers and communities we serve. 

This article was originally published on Ground Handling International.