Groundforce and Aviapartner obtain handling licences for Bilbao airport for the next 7 years
Aena has completed the process of implementing the new handling licences, which has led to changes in the provider of ground handling services to airlines in the ramp category at 25 airports in the Aena network in Spain. In total, 41 licences have been renewed for a period of 7 years. In the case of Bilbao airport, these licences will pass into the hands of Groundforce and Aviapartner.
The transition, which has been staggered according to the size of the airport and the changes of operator, began in February and ended on 24 April, without any operational incidents in a context of growing traffic, with record passenger numbers, meeting high standards of safety, quality and sustainability.
The public tender for ground handling services to third parties, in the category of ramp handling, includes, among other tasks, baggage handling, assistance for operations on the runway and assistance for cargo and mail in terms of physical handling between the airport terminal and the aircraft. Excluded from this process are fuel handling services, which are tendered in another process.
This public tender was designed to guarantee a transition that respects the working conditions of the workers and ensures the highest quality service provision to passengers at Aena’s Spanish airports. As required by European and Spanish legislation governing ground handling services, the public tender applied 100% objective, transparent and non-discriminatory selection criteria.
The President and CEO of Aena, Maurici Lucena, highlighted the professionalism in the design and resolution of the process of assigning these licences by the airport manager: “The transfer of licences has taken place without operational incidents and this is commendable, because handling services are essential for the proper functioning of Spanish airports”. Furthermore, he emphasised that “the obligations implied by these new licences will make Aena’s airports in Spain even more competitive”.
The new licences include commitments on the part of the handling agents that will improve the service and, therefore, the quality perceived by passengers, such as, for example, baggage delivery times. They also bring significant improvements in the environmental sustainability of handling equipment: 80% of the fleet of third party ramp operators will be electric by 2024 and 88% by 2030. In addition, by 2024 the sustainable fleet will reach 99.23% and by 2030 it will be 100% electric.