Airport News

Airport News
The new European Commission may shelve plans to open up airport ground handling services at gateways to more competition after criticism from airports, reports claim.

Airports say such a move could hit the quality of services runs, and the reform would give airlines more choice of service providers and increase the minimum number of providers at large airports.

Reports also claim the Commission explains in a draft document that it was unlikely to get wide agreement on the reform.

Currently, European airports with more than 15 million passengers a year should allow at least two core ground handling providers, and the Commission had wanted to increase that number to three.

However, ACI Europe, which represents 450 airports across 45 European countries, argues that increasing the number of ground handling providers at gateways could make operations more complicated.

It adds that more ground handlers would mean more space needed for equipment while making it more difficult to coordinate services in urgent emergency events where such as in extreme weather.

ACI Europe, and German airports association ADV, say further liberalisation and competition for tenders would also put pressure on already low wages in the sector because staff costs make up around 70% of the costs of service providers.