Airlines will handle ground ops at BIA

Airlines will handle ground ops at BIA
Anshul Dhamija |TNN

Bangalore: For all those harassed by the inadequacies of the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), here’s some good news. There could soon be fewer delays on the ground.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed BIA to allow airlines to operate ground handling facilities and services (both at the check-in and apron areas). Airlines no longer have to necessarily outsource their ground handling to the Air India-SATS combine or Globe Ground India, the two third party ground-handlers at the airport.
This means that airlines would now save 30-40% of their expenditure at the airport and is expected to improve passenger service quality. These events follow a complaint made by a leading lowcost airline to the DGCA about BIAL’s partial attitude towards airlines handling their own ground operations
According to DGCA and airline sources, BIAL had previously agreed that “those airlines which enjoy a market share of over 25% would be allowed to conduct their own ground handling at the airport.”
This meant that only the three merged airline entities Jet Airways-Jet Lite, Kingfisher-Deccan and Air India (Air India-Indian Airlines) would be allowed to do their own ground handling. All other airlines had to choose either one of the two third party ground handlers.
Following the complaint, DGCA told BIAL that it will cancel their licence to operate, as no partiality will be welcomed.
The promoters of the airport told TOI that they would now allow all airlines — full service as well as low-cost carriers — to conduct their own ground handling if they so wished.
BIAL said, “We have always maintained that having at least two professional ground handlers ensures not only a competitive environment in terms of service, quality and price but also has a direct impact on the safety and security on the airside. This set-up is therefore the most economical and safe approach for the airlines. The airlines also agreed that this policy improves ramp safety and security since fewer parties would operate on the ramp.”
But airline officials at the new airport have a different story. “The constant delays in turning our aircraft around were caused due to the poor ground handling services provided by BIAL. Doing our own ground handling will benefit greatly in terms of customer experience and savings on cost,” said an official of a leading airline.