Ground Handler Business
Block 7
Week 1 – Ground Handling; Terminal versus Planeside (1/3)
Terminal versus Airside
Terminal Activities (Landside) Airside Activities
- Passenger Handling - Ramp service
Check-in, ticketing, transfer pax. - Aircraft service
- Baggage Handling - On-board service
Check-in, (re-)claim, lost bags. - Cargo (depends on airport)
- Security - Utilization of space
- Government Controls Equipment, parking, etc.
Immigration, customs, etc.
- Cargo (depends on airport)
Airside Activities
Ramp Service
- Marshaling aircraft in/out.
- GPU.
- Tow/pushback of aircraft.
- Unloading/loading bags.
On-board service
- Catering.
- Cleaning inside the aircraft.
Cargo
- Taking care of every package.
Aircraft service
- Maintenance/repair/safety checks.
- Fueling.
- Deicing.
- Lavatories.
- Potable water (drinkable).
- Cleaning outside of aircraft, windows, etc.
Utilization of space
- Placement of service vehicles during service
(inside the apron).
- Parking of equipment not in use.
Week 1 – Ground Handling; Terminal versus Planeside (2/3)
Baggage Handling
Hub Spoke (line station)
Move bags from the check-in area to Move bags from the check-in area
the departure gate. to the departure gate.
Move bags from one gate to another
during transfers.
Move bags from the arrival gate to Move bags from the arrival gate to
the baggage-claim area. the baggage-claim area.
, Ground Handler Business
Block 7
Management performance
Tight measurements on performance for management include: safety, on-time performance
and baggage:
- Time from landside to aircraft (10-20 minutes in the system itself, so minimum check-
in time becomes key factor).
- Time from aircraft to baggage claim (first bag within 15 minutes for example).
- Time from aircraft to aircraft if transfer bags (key factor in MCT).
- Passengers Arriving Without Bag (PAWOB). For example, 1/1,000 for non-transfer
or 5-50/1,000 for transfer bags.
Baggage-handling systems and technology
- Baggage handling systems (BHS)
o Detection of bag jams
o Volume regulations (to ensure that input points are controlled to avoid
overloading system).
o Load balancing (to evenly distribute bag volume between conveyor sub-
systems).
o Bag counting, bag tracking, and redirection of bags via a pusher or diverter.
- Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS). Checks the security of the bag
automatically in the BHS.
- Automatic scanners scan the labels on the luggage.
- Conveyors equipped with junctions and sorting machines automatically route the
bags to the gate.
- Destination-coded vehicles (DCVs), unmanned carts propelled by linear induction
motors mounted to the tracks, can load and unload bags without stopping.
Week 1 – Ground Handling; Terminal versus Planeside (3/3)
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
An SLA is a negotiated agreement between two parties where the level of service is formally
defined. Each specific area of the service scope should be subjected to the same degree of
scrutiny.
It addresses the KPI’s of either and/or both parties, for instance, airline and ground handler.
Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA)
IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
The SGHA is a dynamic document that reflects the evolution of the ground handling business
over time.
- It includes the SLA which is derived from a negotiation.
Difference SLA versus SGHA
, Ground Handler Business
Block 7
Delay Codes – IATA
These codes are used to describe delays caused by Passengers and Baggage handling.
Delay Codes starting with
1 (passenger/baggage
11 (PD) Late check-in, acceptance of passengers after deadline.
12 (PL) Late Check-in, congestion in check-in area.
13 (PE) Check-in error.
14 (PO) Over sales, booking errors.
15 (PH) Boarding, discrepancies and paging, missing check-in
passenger at gate.
16 (PS) Commercial Publicity, Passenger Convenience, VIP, Press,
Ground meals and missing personal items.
17 (PC) Catering order, late or incorrect order given to supplier.
18 (PB) Baggage processing, sorting, etc.
19 (PW) Reduced Mobility, Boarding/Debearding of passengers with
reduced mobility.
