European ground handler, Aviapartner Handling, has announced a series of new ground handling contracts with KLM in Marseilles, Nice and Toulouse and Air One in Milan-Malpensa.
In Toulouse, Aviapartner will be handling three daily KLM flights from 3 June 2008. In Nice, KLM will switch to Aviapartner Handling as of 17 June for their four daily flights and in Marseilles as of 30 September for their three daily flights. All these flights are operated with Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 aircraft. In total, this represents an important increase in volume for these stations, totalling 3,500 flights per year, Aviapartner said.
Included in the scope of the contract, Aviapartner will handle all Ramp Handling and Traffic Operations services. Ramp Handling includes loading and unloading, ground power, cleaning, freight and baggage transfer, headset, pushback and towing, and aircraft de-icing. Traffic Operations includes flight documentation, communication, weight and balance, crew briefing, and flight supervision.
Karel Bekaert, General Manager Handling France and Benelux said: “This agreement represents a major step forward for the stations involved and for the entire Aviapartner French network. These various contracts also reinforce our co-operation with KLM. Indeed, today we already handle this airline in seven stations of our 37-airport network, and these contracts with three additional stations confirm once more the good working relationship we have with them.”
The Air One contract meanwhile, will see Aviapartner providing full handling services in Milan-Malpensa.
The contract, effective since 30 March for ramp handling and as of 1 July also for passenger services, covers about 130 flights per week (roughly 7,000 flights per year) and will double the volume at this station.
Air One started with a new programme of various domestic and international operations out of Milan-Malpensa on 30 March with A320 and CRJ900 aircraft and foresees a growth rate of 40 per cent annually for this service. Air One will also launch two intercontinental flights to the US (Boston and Chicago) from mid-June 2008 with brand new A330-200 aircraft.