Advantages
Many commercial airports across the country are notorious for implementing innovative ideas to generate new revenue and to become less dependent upon traditional sources such as landing fees and lease space. Providing ground handling service to airlines for a profit is one of these innovative ideas, and has a number of advantages besides the potential revenue opportunities.
Air service development is one opportunity that should be explored. For instance, the Mobile Airport Authority was faced with challenges of retaining air service when management suggested to US Airways that the airport could provide ground services at a reasonable rate. The airport began service after 9/11, and the staff is now fully-trained in the airline’s systems and operations, including checking in passengers and baggage, selling and issuing tickets, and marshaling aircraft in and out of the assigned parking position. The airport provides all ground handling equipment and was actually able to obtain funding from the Department of Transportation from the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program to support the operation. Although a number of the existing airlines at Mobile have not contracted with the authority to provide the service, the operation is a great marketing tool when approaching new airlines to service the market. Reduced staffing, training headaches, equipment cost and reasonable turn rates are great tools in convincing an air carrier to use the airport.