The German private equity firm Mutares SE & Co. KGaA has reached an agreement to acquire all operational businesses of TREPEL and MAFI from NDW Maschinenbau Holding. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026. The two companies mainly provide airport ground handling, port and industrial logistics equipment. Their business networks cover over 115 countries worldwide, with a combined annual revenue of approximately 150 million euros and 410 employees. Their service business accounts for 12% of the total revenue, and the profits are stable. After operational optimization and transformation, the company has outstanding profit and growth potential. This acquisition will strengthen Mutares' infrastructure and specialized industrial segments. The company also plans to work with the original management team to turn it into a leader in the specific field.
The global fourth-level autonomous driving software company ADASTEC, in collaboration with Turkish Airlines, Istanbul New Airport and Karsan vehicle manufacturer, successfully completed the practical demonstration of Karsan autonomous e-ATAK shuttle vehicle in the real aircraft parking area traffic environment at the airport. The vehicle traveled a 11-kilometer route, simulating two operational scenarios: crew commuting and crew going to the parking position. It performed stably in complex mixed traffic and successfully completed lane changes and precise navigation operations. This test, following the pilot program at Frankfurt Airport, further verified the safety, efficiency and practicality of SAE 4-level autonomous driving technology in high-demand airport scenarios. Facing multiple pressures such as hub airport operation, cost and sustainable development, this technology has met the conditions for implementation and will promote the transformation of aviation ground operations towa
On June 7, 2026, a storm occurred at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Strong winds blew away the ladders, supports and other ground support equipment at the parking area of Terminal 2, causing damage to three narrow-body Indian Airlines aircraft. At the time of the incident, there were no passengers on board and no one was injured. The affected aircraft have all been grounded for maintenance. Currently, two Airbus A320 passenger planes are expected to resume flights soon, while the other one needs to continue repairs. The ownership of the involved equipment is in dispute. Indigo Airlines denies the relevant claims. It is reported that the airport and the airline did not anticipate this storm. This claim has not been confirmed by the civil aviation department yet, and Indian Airlines has not released the complete damage situation either.
DNATA has reached an agreement with the Silk Way Group to provide ground services for the latter's two weekly cargo flights. The annual cargo and mail handling volume is expected to exceed 15,000 tons, covering general goods, temperature-sensitive goods, and special goods. Tom Alwyn-Jones, the managing director of DNATA in Singapore, stated that this reflects its operational strength in Singapore and it will focus on ensuring aircraft turnaround and service levels. Onno Pietersma, the chief operating officer of Silk Way West Airlines, believes that DNATA's ground support will help maintain high operational standards. Currently, DNATA's annual handling volume in Singapore is approximately 250,000 tons.
