www.airlinergs.com AUTUMN 2019 ASA interview Route Development FSC and LCC interviews Airline Catering Fabio Gamba on taking the MENA Region faces a Ethiopian and Great Dane In-flight catering not simply hot seat difficult few years Airlines a case of feeding faces Centralized Load Control Zero Fuel Planning Loading confirmation Ramp Clearance Final ACARS Post departure Constant ZFW monitoring Real time monitoring of load activities Load sheet issuance Efficient load planning Post-departure activities and follow-ups Operational excellence worldwide Our Centralized Load Control services are responsible for the planning of aircraft loads, while adhering to strict safety principles and quality policies. By maintaining load sheet accuracy and producing advanced load estimations with real time monitoring of loading activities, we ensure thatour flights depart safely and on time, around the globe. For more information visit qataraviation.com [email protected] Published by: EVA International Media ltd Boswell Cottage, 19 South End, Croydon, London, CR0 1BE, UK Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of In this issue, we speak to Oman Aviation AirlineEditor’s Routes & Ground Services. ServicesNotes (page 24), Celebi Aviation (page Tel: +44 (0) 20 8253 4000 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8603 7369 26), PrimeFlight (page 28), Airline Assistance This issue features a one-to-one interview Switzerland (page 30), GroundForce (page 32) www.evaintmedia.com with new Airport Services Association and Antigua Airport Services (page 33). Director General Fabio Gamba (page 4). He Printed by: took over at the helm of the association in In View from the Airports (page 34) we get The Manson Group Limited April and he shares his views on the industry the lowdown on what is happening at Miami St Albans, Hertfordshire, and his plans in the hot seat. International Airport, Berlin Brandenburg AL3 6PZ, UK Airport and Gatwick Airport. Distributed By: The industry’s biggest event, IGHC, took place Air Business in Madrid from 26-29 May and we review One ground handling sector changing fast due The Merlin Centre, Acrewood (page 8) the pertinent issues that came out to its importance to passengers is catering. Way, St Albans, AL4 0JY, of the gathering, where there were calls by Airlines are doing everything they can to meet United Kingdom IATA for a focus on safety, standards and new demands for choice of high-quality food innovation. on board and we find out (page 38) what the emerging trends are and what is being done. This month’s full-service carrier interview is Join the conversation Twitter: @args_eva with Ethiopian Airlines (page 10). We speak This issue also features an interview with Linkedin: /args-magazine to Tekle G/Yohannes, Managing Director of aviation IT company Amadeus (page 42), as we the airline’s ground handling division, about speak to Stephan Hirmer, Head of Passenger Advertising opportunities what are the current operating challenges and Systems, about the different projects his Contact Humza Raja on opportunities. company is running in the industry. + 44 (0) 20 8253 4005 Route development in this issue focuses on Lastly, we have a special report (page 45) the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by Michael Muzik, Senior Product Manager Issue 29 2019 region (page 14), which is facing a difficult and Consultant at Lufthansa Systems, https://airlinergs.com/ few years, but new network models and on how artificial intelligence and other infrastructure development are set to help new technology are changing turnaround Content may not be airlines thrive. management. reproduced in any format without written permission from EVA International The low-cost carrier (LCC) interview in this I hope you enjoy reading the issue. Media Ltd issue focuses on Danish regional start-up carrier Great Dane Airlines (page 20), which has taken off from its Aalborg Airport base. Address changes and We speak to Thomas Hugo Møller, CEO and subscriptions: [email protected] founder of the new airline. ISSN 2516-8002 As usual, we speak to a range of ground handlers from around the globe, to garner EVA INTERNATIONAL MEDIA LTD their thoughts on how the industry is faring, PUBLISHERS & EVENTS SPECIALISTS what they are doing to meet new demands Justin Burns and trends and find out what new initiatives they are implementing. Editor [email protected] The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors or advertisers and do not necessarily reflect those of EVA or its members. James Sheridan Humza Raja Charlotte Willis Chairman Sales Manager Office Manager The mention of specific [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] companies or products in articles or advertisements contained herein does not imply that they are endorsed Parveen Raja Gemma Keen Jordan Newton or recommended by EVA. Publisher Events Coordinator Graphic Designer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Megan Ramsay Shobhana Patel Nenad Panic Graham Newton Head of Finance Graphic Designer Michael Muzik [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Contributors Contents Autumn 2019 10 FSC Interview: Ethiopian Airlines Ground Services 24 Ground Handler Interview: 38 Oman Aviation Services Airline Catering 04 Big Interview: ASA Director 24 Ground Handler Focus: 33 Ground Handler Focus: General Fabio Gamba Oman Aviation Services Airport Services (Antigua) Fabio Gamba took over as chief of Oman Aviation Services is expanding Airport Services (Antigua) is facing ASA in April and he gives his thoughts fast on the back of rising air traffic various headwinds but is optimistic for on how he sees the near future of the in Oman and the growth of Oman the future as there are plans to improve association Air infrastructure on the island 08 Review of 26 Ground Handler Focus: 34 Views from the Airports IGHC in Madrid Celebi Aviation IATA’s Ground Handling Conference took Celebi Aviation has made the big move this Under the spotlight in this issue are three place in Madrid from 26-29 May and we year to Istanbul’s new hub and continues airports: Miami International Airport, Berlin focus on a few of most pertinent issues its overseas expansion into new markets Brandenburg Airport and London Gatwick that came out of the conference Airport 10 FSC Interview: Ethiopian 28 Ground Handler Focus: 38 Airline Catering Airlines Ground Services PrimeFlight In-flight catering is not simply a case Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s biggest carrier PrimeFlight Aviation Services is focused on of feeding faces as today’s passengers and the Ethiopian Airlines Ground Services providing quality ground handling services demand a choice of high-quality, delicious, unit is growing at pace in tandem and has expanded its footprint environmentally conscious cuisine 14 Route Development: 30 Ground Handler Focus: 42 Amadeus Middle East and Africa Airline Assistance Switzerland Route development in the Middle East Airline Assistance Switzerland in Zurich is Amadeus is at the forefront of the and Africa faces a difficult few years but taking an innovative and flexible approach implementation of IT systems to new network models and infrastructure to operations there enhance operational efficiency, improve development will help airlines to thrive in a performance and reduce costs across the rapidly changing industry aviation industry 20 LCC Interview: 32 Ground Handler Focus: 45 AI in Aircraft Turnaround Great Dane Airlines GroundForce The Danish regional start-up carrier has Groundforce has had a demanding year as Artificial Intelligence and other new taken off and has big targets from its base airline closures, growing air traffic and ATC technologies are changing turnaround at Aalborg Airport strikes have impacted business management and will transform the operating landscape in the years ahead AIRPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION A new beginning for ASA as new leaders take the helm Airport Services Association (ASA) appointed Fabio Gamba as its new Director General in April and he spoke with Justin Burns at IGHC in Madrid about his plans in the hot seat The challenges that the ground handling CEO of the European Business Aviation In Gamba’s view, this is the most industry faces are arguably as serious Association and Deputy Secretary General important part of ASA’s work, but he as they have ever been, due to growing of the Association of European Airlines. noted that if the association wants operational pressures from ever- to be successful it cannot be the only increasing air traffic growth, recruitment The ‘tripod’ of success element. Political activities are only one difficulties and tight margins. Speaking on the sidelines at IGHC (important) side of the coin. in Madrid, Gamba explained that his The Airport Services Association (ASA) approach to leading an association is The second part of this ‘tripod’ is has a key role to play in representing its threefold. He likes to look at associations generating clear added value and exclusive members globally in challenging times. as a ‘tripod’. benefits for members only, something which he is keen to focus on. In April, the association’s leadership team On one side there are lobbying and changed when Fabio Gamba, Managing political activities. Upholding the interests “There are different avenues to consider Director of Airline Catering Association of members with other stakeholders such – one being training,” Gamba said. “There (ACA), was appointed Director General, as IATA and ACI, and regulators like the are plenty of training courses available out replacing Jon Conway, who stepped down European Commission and EASA, which is there for ground handlers, but of varying after completing his two-year term. now taking an active role in rule-making in quality. ground handling (GH) for the first time, is Meanwhile, dnata Divisional Senior Vice integral for ASA. With an ASA accreditation programme, President Steve Allen was elected as we would like to rubber-stamp and Chairman, replacing Sally Leible, President “This is the first key responsibility for endorse those which are of superior of Airport Terminal Services, who stepped an association – the political part,” quality based on whether they are down after serving since 2017.