Aena has announced the names of the companies that will carry out the ground handling service to airlines for the next seven years at Spanish airports.
In Lanzarote, the Belgian company Aviapartner repeats and a new operator enters the island. This is the Spanish company Groundforce, which replaces Swissport. The Swiss company disappears from Spanish airports with the exception of Palma de Mallorca.
Aviapartner and Groundforce, whose licenses in Lanzarote will come into effect in the middle of next year, have also been the big winners of the public tender at the national level, since they have added 24 licenses of the 41 that Aena had published for Spanish airports.
The companies will be able to offer ground handling services to third parties, in the ramp handling category, which includes, among other tasks, luggage assistance, runway operations assistance and cargo and mail assistance with regard to its physical handling between the airport terminal and the aircraft.
They will deliver luggage faster and will have a sustainable fleet
The bidders' proposals represent very significant improvements over the current situation. Specifically, 80% of the handling operators' fleet will be electric in 2024 and 88% in 2030.
With regard to the quality of service, agreements related to last baggage delivery times are also extended: handling operators have committed to a 20% reduction.
All of this will result in an improvement in the quality of service to passengers without increasing the rates that operators apply to airlines.
On the contrary, the bidders have offered an additional average reduction of 6% on the current maximum ramp rates.
Aena will establish a staggered transition schedule based on the size of the airport and operator changes, where applicable.
From the allocation of these licenses, airlines must establish a commercial relationship with the operators in possession of the new licenses.
Regardless of these licenses, airlines may also request to provide the service themselves
(self-handling) under the terms and conditions established.
