- The ground handling concession has been awarded to two consortia
- Menzies and Bobba
- SATS, Indian Airlines and Air India
- The Concessions are for a period of seven years each
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, (GHIAL), which is developing the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, has awarded an important concession to carry out ground handling activities of third party airlines to two consortia namely Menzies & Bobba and SATS, Indian Airlines & Air India. This seven-year concession agreement is valid from the date of operation of the airport. GHIAL planned for two ground handling operators at the new Airport as part of its objective to have competitively provided services for the airlines.
Menzies Aviation of Menzies-Bobba consortium is the leading provider of integrated ground handling and cargo handling services at over 100 locations in all five continents world over and also operating JVs in Asia Pacific countries for Cargo / Ground handling and serves over 500 airline customers. It has handled over 340,000 flights and 52 million pax in FY 2005-2006. Menzies will be bringing in high quality standards, processes and new technologies to the ground handling operations at the new Airport. The Indian Partner, Bobba Aviation Group has extensive experience in cargo and ground handling in India and would complement the services of the joint venture by bringing in their expertise and experience to meet the specific requirements of Indian aviation.
In the other consortium, SATS, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is the leading provider of integrated ground handling and in-flight catering services at Changi Airport at Singapore and also operating 16 JVs in 9 Asian countries for Cargo/Ground handling and In-Flight Catering and serves over 100 airline customers. It has handled 260,000 flights and 40 million pax in FY 2005-2006. SATS will be bringing in high quality standards, processes and new technologies to the ground handling operations at the new Airport. The Indian Partners, Air India and Indian Airlines are National Carriers and major third party ground handling operators in India. They would provide high level synergy in the offering of the services by the joint venture by bringing in their domestic operations expertise and experience as well as existing marketing network in the Indian airports.
Both the independent Ground Handling Operators have been chosen, after a transparent bidding followed by technical and financial evaluation. The parameters considered include international experience and financial standing, experience of JVs in Asian airports including Indian JV partner experience and equipment proposed and investment. Further, the consortia have successfully met criteria on process and quality standards like ISO 9002 and accreditation to IATA for service standard measurements and use of advanced IT Systems. Besides the, consortia also have well defined plans for the overall implementation to meet Airport opening schedule and participation in trials and for marketing.
The scope of services offered by these Consortia as ground handlers includes the following:
- Ramp handling of aircraft & its loads
- Passenger handling at airport in terminals & at ramp areas, including handling of VIP/CIP/Wheelchair cases at curb-side. Check-in of passengers & their baggage at city terminal and their transport to airport including bringing back arriving passengers up to city point.
- Baggage handling (acceptance, delivery & misplaced baggage cases). Storage and control of station stock of baggage containers of client airlines
- Cargo handling at ramp areas only
- Load control, communications, handling documents, bills, payments etc of client airlines
- Operating crew transport, administration, briefing and documentation
Both the consortia are expected to put in efforts to offer cost effective, high quality, safe and efficient ground handling services at international level at the Airport. They will be setting up Modern IT systems and ground handling equipments in a mobile environment for the first time in India to increase operational efficiencies and reduce turn around time for the aircraft. They would thus be playing a vital role for the airlines for increased utilization time per aircraft.
Mr. T Srinagesh, Chief Operating Officer, GHIAL, stated: "The selection of a good Ground Handler is very critical as it forms one of the key services to be rendered at the Airport in terms of overall quality and safety to the airlines and passengers."
He added - "GHIAL will have two g