February 10 2012

Ras Al Khaimah International awards handling contract to National Aviation Services
The step marks the first of its kind agreement for an airport in the UAE, according to a statement from RAK International airport. Under the terms of the contract, NAS will provide RAK airport with a comprehensive ground handling service which will include ramp handling in addition to check-in, arrival, transit and cargo services. In addition to its core services, Pearl Assist, NAS’s worldwide network of lounge and meet and assist services will be available at RAK International.

Swissport International signs up with GOL
Swissport has agreed a three-year contract extension with Brazilian airline GOL for aircraft services and ramp handling at six airports within Brazil. The contract covers ramp services at Eduardo Gomes International airport in Manaus; Rio de Janeiro-Galeao airport; São Paulo’s Guarulhos International and Congonhas International; Brasilia’s Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek airport and Salgado Filho airport, in Porto Alegre. Services include aircraft loading and unloading; baggage sorting and transportation; cabin cleaning; crew transport; aircraft pushback; lavatory and water services and ULD control. 

AEO certificate granted to PortGround
PortGround, a subsidiary of Mitteldeutsche Airport Holding, which provides ground handling, freight and other services at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports, was awarded an authorised economic operator certificate by Germany’s customs authorities at the end of 2011. The AEO certificate allows its holders to benefit from certain customs simplifications as well as security facilities.

Muscat International to have a state-of-the-art baggage handling system
A brand new BHS, together with check-in facilities in the departure hall of the passenger terminal building, are scheduled for completion by 2014. The BHS will offer the latest technology for security screening of departure and transfer baggage, together with customs screening for baggage arrival, and has been designed to handle 12m passengers per year. Work got underway in early 2012, with the project contractor setting up a 9.5 kilometre conveyor belt. The same contractors are working on a new airport in Salalah, which is designed to handle 1m passengers per year. Work on the Muscat BHS actually began in July 2011 and it will be capable of handling the peak hour capacities from each of the 84 check-in positions, which are spread over seven islands. Baggage can be sorted to any of the 13 carousels or two lateral belts. A pair of Helixorter tilt-tray sorters will perform the task of sortation.
The agreement (worth US$71.8m) was signed between the Omani Transport and Communications Ministry and Vanderlande Industries.

Worldwide Flight Services busy in the Virgin Islands
WFS has been awarded ground handling contracts with JetAirFly Airlines, Air Canada and JetBlue Airlines in the US Virgin Islands. WFS actually opened its stations in St Thomas and St Croix back in 1989: today, the handler employs a team of 100 staff in St Thomas and 40 employees in St Croix. 

Janury 25 2012

Connecticut-based Somerset GSE Finance has established Somerset Equipment Finance UK
The company’s new British subsidiary will serve as its European base to service clients’ financing needs throughout most of Europe. Somerset GSE Finance provides equipment financing and asset management services to the GSE market, covering all GSE asset types, including de-icing trucks, loaders, beltloaders, towbar and towbarless tractors, refuelling equipment, baggage tractors and ground power units. Establishing the UK subsidiary will expand the company’s global reach to include the US, Canada, most of Europe and parts of Asia.

More than 1,000 airport vehicles in Jeddah will now come under TUV Nord’s safety check procedures
The safety checks of GSE at King Abdulaziz International airport are now in the hands of technical standards services provider TUV NORD of Germany, and its local partner FAHSS/TUV Saudi Arabia.
All vehicles are subjected to regular safety checks at the airport and a team of safety and quality control experts from the airport and the national aviation authority, the GACA, recently visited TUV NORD in Hanover and Berlin, to learn more about the technical organisation’s competency in the areas of mobility, information technology and aviation. Ingo Albes, the TUV NORD Mobility Manager responsible for the Saudi Arabian project, said in a press release that the company had successfully passed the probation period in Saudi Arabia and that it now wanted to introduce its customers to the wide range of knowledge available in the realm of safety at airport locations. The visiting delegation also saw the TUV NORD Aviation station at the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport, which is serviced by the company on behalf of the German aviation authority.
The co-operation between TUV NORD and Saudi Arabia actually dates back to 2009. This has paved the way for vehicle inspections in accordance with strict German standards, thereby enhancing airport safety at Saudi airports. Currently, TUV NORD provides technical services in some 70 countries.

Bahrain Airport Services has announced that it will need more staff
Hundreds of local jobs are set to be created as one of Bahrain’s biggest companies prepares for a major expansion. Chairman Jalal Mohammed Jalal has revealed that the company would also expand its services, buy new equipment and look to modernise.
“The new terminal project at the airport is expected to take off later this year, and we have to be prepared for that,” he said. Jalal added that employing more staff was its number one priority, and that most of those to be employed would be Bahrainis. “With the expansion, we will not only contribute towards ‘Bahrainisation’ and give jobs to citizens, but we will also contribute to Bahrain’s economy moving forward,” he confirmed.
The handler has recently invested in new buses and other modern airport equipment. 

Swissport International generated revenues of CHF1.7bn in 2011
This figure represents a 7% increase over 2010. The business growth achieved throughout the year is purely organic, and early indicators suggest that the result is clearly ahead of the aviation sector as a whole, and significantly ahead of those markets where Swissport’s operations are focused. Per Utnegaard, CEO of Swissport International, said that the results were very encouraging, particularly given the tough economic climate in 2011, and reflected that an outstanding level of new contract wins and contract renewals had enabled the company to increase its market share.
“Swissport’s strong performance under very challenging market conditions proves again that the resilience of our business model and the robustness of our strategy are working well,” he said.
Business highlights in 2011 included a six-year contract to handle Lufthansa’s regional fleet in Munich; the winning of four handling licences at Brussels airport; the start-up of cargo handling operations at Japan’s Narita International airport; and a five-year agreement for the management of Finnair’s baggage and apron services in Helsinki.