Operations of Airlines

“The world commercial airline industry is one of the most diverse, dynamic and perplexing in the world ” (Globale Airline Industry Program). The airports are exceptionally complex facilities and highly renowned for the variety of services and resources it provides to both the airlines and its users. Airlines and airports are inextricably intertwined together and none of them can survive without the other. The aviation industry is growing at an exponential rate. The demands for an effective and efficient ground handling system became the fundamental standards in successful aircraft operation and increase in airline image. The directives adopted by the 15 member states are divided into three general models, US, EU and third party models. In the US model airlines independently provide ground handling services to their airlines and manage airport terminals activities. In the other hand EU model, airports are heavily involved in ground handling services for airlines. The third party ground handling service is provided by other agencies usually contracted by airports along with supervision from airport operators. Even though contracting a third party into operation is in itself a challenge; operators have to make sure that those contracting agencies comply with ground handling standards and provide a top quality service continuously. Achieving those standards is one thing but when it comes to employment, operators have to either assume or take the necessary measures to insure handlers come with quality and an ideal price that would match their serviceability. Ground handling services are divided in to two major parts terminal services and airside services.

As airlines grow in size and their flight route operations became international, airports started to play a major critical role in providing facilities and services to accommodate long and short haul flights. As airlines are the most important customers for airports, they made mutual contract agreements to join