ACS was jointly established in 1999 by the Airlines Association of Southern Africa AASA), the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA) and the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) to provide operational support services to international and domestic airlines operating from, into and within South Africa.

During 2008, ACSA chose to relinquish management of ACS and the subsequently re-formed organisation installed an in-house management team, continuing operations as a not-for-profit entity. The underlying intent of the organisation remains essentially unchanged after fifteen years of operation - uncompromising prioritised, globally benchmarked service quality, cost effective service delivery and maintaining a philosophy of reinvesting operational surpluses into its world-class equipment, people and processes. ACS invests in the latest technology and equipment to ensure that services are rendered to the highest possible international and national standards and best practice.