Alpha Airports Group - Holding in Company

RNS Number:6159E
Alpha Airports Group PLC
28 January 2000

                                  
               Acquisition by Servair from Harrods Ltd
       of 27 per cent shareholding in Alpha Airports Group PLC



Servair and Harrods Ltd are pleased to announce that Servair has
today acquired the 46,616,666 ordinary shares (being approximately
27% of the issued ordinary share capital) owned by Harrods Ltd in
Alpha Airports Group PLC ("Alpha"), the aviation services company.
Alpha's core activities are inflight catering (32 kitchens in 6
countries) and airport retail.  It also operates 28 restaurants and
bars in 7 airports.  Servair intends the acquisition to be the first
step in the development of a partnership with Alpha to build on each
group's existing high quality inflight catering services for airlines
worldwide.

Servair, the 80% owned international flight catering subsidiary of
Air France, has its core activities in Paris and throughout France
with an overseas presence and existing partnerships in Spain, Africa,
Macau and the United States.  In the year ended 31 December 1998,
Servair generated turnover of FF 2.3 billion, mainly in the catering
services business.

Alpha's operating profits on continuing operations, pre-exceptional
items, for the year ended 31 January 1999, were #21.1 million on a
turnover of #519.8 million.

Michel Ennesser, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Servair
said, "We are delighted to have acquired the shareholding in Alpha.
We see the acquisition as the first step in developing a partnership
with Alpha to offer the highest quality catering services to all of
our airline customers and as a first step in consolidating our
relationships with our other partners."

The Harrods Chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed said, "This is excellent news
for Alpha shareholders. I am very pleased to have found such a
reputable buyer."

Servair was advised on this transaction by CCF Charterhouse.

Enquiries

Harrods Ltd Laurie Mayer, Director of Public Relations 00 44 171 893 8488

Servair           Philippe Eydaleine, Senior Vice President 00 331 48 64 85 02

CCF               Jean Beunardeau 00 331 40 70 76 84
Charterhouse      Jonathan Grassi 00 44 171 248 4000



END
HOLPUUMAGUPUGGR