Fast turns
The impact of LCCs on the aviation market has been profound. One of the areas in which their influence has been most keenly felt is in improved ground turnaround times. “[This] has been a core benefit to the airlines and passengers alike as fares have tumbled and schedules grown. Fast turns are now a [general] requirement,” Bodin notes.
“In the early days [of LCCs] handling agents resisted change. However, those that were brave enough to embrace new working practices and cultures really benefited from the spectacular growth of LCCs,” he adds.
SpiceJet’s Hingorani agrees. “LCCs have changed the way that ground handlers work and thereby changed the industry. GHAs had to adapt and need to further adapt for the revised mandate of much leaner ground turnaround times.”
Hingorani is certain that the present business models employed by today’s LCCs with their ground handlers will be the guide for future ground handling contracts agreed by almost all carriers. Why? “Because this model has proved to be successful as well as cost effective,” he insists.