KLM

[CM.]

Therefore rather then Swissport handling it the airport should give it to the airport/airside operations to operate Jet Bridge.

It’s not their job though it’s the responsibility of the ground handlers

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

It’s not their job though it’s the responsibility of the ground handlers

It’s an airport owned airbridge. Therefore if the ground handlers have inadequate staff or resource to do it, LBA should step in and provide.

 

[CM.]

It’s an airport owned airbridge. Therefore if the ground handlers have inadequate staff or resource to do it, LBA should step in and provide.

I agree however the majority of the time it’s the ground handlers that do it. As it’s their responsibility just the same as doing the steps.

You have to bare in mind also that airside operations are busy with other jobs.

 

[White Heather]

It’s an airport owned airbridge. Therefore if the ground handlers have inadequate staff or resource to do it, LBA should step in and provide.

If Swissport are contracted to operate the air-bridge, they are also paid to do it by KLM. Why should LBA train up someone specially to operate something that Swissport are already paid to do? It's the airports option to provide the airbridge and maintain it, not to operate it to cover the inability of KLMs ground handling agent to do what they're paid to do.

You might as well say LBA staff should take out the air-stairs or operate the tugs or even operate the de-icing rigs in winter as well when Swissport are struggling to do it on time.

 

[Aviador]

It's a valid point and the airside safety unit did operate them in the past. There are currently only two air bridges at LBA so it shouldn't be a huge undertaking for ASU to operate them if the handling agent isn't able to. In my opinion the airport should be considering the reputational damage caused by having something that isn't working rather than just saying its the handling agents job.

Looking back through the years airside ops as it was known as back then used to marshall aircraft onto stand as did the airport fire service. The airport fire service also ran first aid courses and airside driving courses and I believe they still do today.

 

[White Heather]

It's a valid point and the airside safety unit did operate them in the past. There are currently only two air bridges at LBA so it shouldn't be a huge undertaking for ASU to operate them if the handling agent isn't able to. In my opinion the airport should be considering the reputational damage caused by having something that isn't working rather than just saying its the handling agents job.

Looking back through the years airside ops as it was known as back then used to marshall aircraft onto stand as did the airport fire service. The airport fire service also ran first aid courses and airside driving courses and I believe they still do today.

Those times are gone. The airport are not staffed to do such things now. They might as well go the whole way and employ their own ground handling team to provide the service that Swissport can't - except of course they would have exactly the same problem finding the right people to do the job.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

If Swissport are contracted to operate the air-bridge, they are also paid to do it by KLM. Why should LBA train up someone specially to operate something that Swissport are already paid to do? It's the airports option to provide the airbridge and maintain it, not to operate it to cover the inability of KLMs ground handling agent to do what they're paid to do.

You might as well say LBA staff should take out the air-stairs or operate the tugs as well when Swissport are struggling to do it on time.

I mean your missing the point completely. The airbridge is something the airport own and therefore should when there is a lack of staff step in an operate it. After all it's the airport, and NOT, the ground handler attracting the airline to the airport. And after all who trains these people to operate the abridge? The Ground Handlers trainers? Who trains them? - Airside Ops.

Look at other countries, some ground handlers don't operate the airbridge at all. It's done by the airport team.

Absolutely not. Thats part of the ground handler to ensure they have enough stairs, owned by them or leased in, to fulfil their contract of ground handing with each different airline that they have a contract with.

It's a valid point and the airside safety unit did operate them in the past. There are currently only two air bridges at LBA so it shouldn't be a huge undertaking for ASU to operate them if the handling agent isn't able to. In my opinion the airport should be considering the reputational damage caused by having something that isn't working rather than just saying its the handling agents job.

Looking back through the years airside ops as it was known as back then used to marshall aircraft onto stand as did the airport fire service. The airport fire service also ran first aid courses and airside driving courses and I believe they still do today.

Thank you @Aviador. I knew Airside ops have stepped in before and did operate them before. Exactly that, just because the ground handler isn't able to provide the service, doesn't mean that services that were offered/stated would be on offer to airlines should go a miss. It's called Damage limitation.

Post automatically merged: Oct 2, 2022

Those times are gone. The airport are not staffed to do such things now. They might as well go the whole way and employ their own ground handling team to provide the service that Swissport can't - except of course they would have exactly the same problem finding the right people to do the job.

Well since they've taken on Security and their own PRM's services themselves they may as well continue. It's not about finding the right people for the job its about offering them a decent wage and roster stability. Something Swissport don't and have never ever done.

 

[CM.]

Look at other countries, some ground handlers don't operate the airbridge at all. It's done by the airport team.

That’s different countries not LBA who will obviously work different ways

After all it's the airport, and NOT, the ground handler attracting the airline to the airport.

But it’s the ground handler that works on the aircraft when it’s at LBA not the LBA workers (Bar the PRM guys)



I can only see them help out when they’re not to busy but that depends.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

That’s different countries not LBA who will obviously work different ways

It was a mere observations. I have no doubt airports also differ in the U.K.

But it’s the ground handler that works on the aircraft when it’s at LBA not the LBA workers (Bar the PRM guys)

Ground handlers failing to provide an airbridge which should be provided for by the airport and is probably contractually agreed to since they pay a little more. This is a failure of ground handling and therefore a failure of the airport to step in and provide an interim fix.

 

[Aviador]

I mean if the airport is adamant it is the job of the handling agent, then charge the handler for doing it for them.

 

[CM.]

I mean if the airport is adamant it is the job of the handling agent, then charge the handler for doing it for them.

It is the handlers job. Just as I’ve mentioned earlier LBA ground ops have other jobs to do so can’t always be there to do the JB on the handlers behalf.

I feel like this is going round in circles so am saying no more on this. Plus this is the KLM LBA thread.

 

[White Heather]

Not sure why Sherburnflyer seems to single out the airbridge as being different. It's just another function of the ground handling team to operate alongside everything else. You can't seperate the airbridge out from their other duties, and frankly, it's not even high priority. The other jobs are more important and if not done will cause delays. The air bridge makes no difference. They are nice to have but not essential. Which is probably why Swissport handled flights are not using them and why it would be ridiculous for LBA to pull staff off their usual jobs to operate them. If they are not doing their normal job, someone else has to do it. Then other problems arise.

Like CM that's my last post on the subject. We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

So just to confirm, which airlines DO use the airbridges, or are they redundant?

 

[Aviador]

It is the handlers job. Just as I’ve mentioned earlier LBA ground ops have other jobs to do so can’t always be there to do the JB on the handlers behalf.

I feel like this is going round in circles so am saying no more on this. Plus this is the KLM LBA thread.

Firstly we are trying to ascertain why the bridge wasn't used on a KLM aircraft so it is entirely relevant here. The initial poster who asked the question is a passenger. They are a frequent *customer* of the airline and the airport so righfully deserves the attention they demand.

I am not disputing ASU have other jobs to be doing, nobody is but what I am saying is they used to do it. If making the handling agents operate air bridges isn't working then an alternative solution might need to be sort.

I worked at LBA a long time ago now but when I was there, the airport went through a period when they offloaded many different jobs they once did onto other service partners. There might well be some valid reasons for moving some responsibilities but if not all of them have worked, this as an example could be relooked at rather than casting asside.

 

[A400]

So just to confirm, which airlines DO use the airbridges, or are they redundant?

I think at present only Jet2 use them

Post automatically merged: Oct 2, 2022

Firstly we are trying to ascertain why the bridge wasn't used on a KLM aircraft so it is entirely relevant here. The initial poster who asked the question is a passenger. They are a frequent *customer* of the airline and the airport so righfully deserves the attention they demand.

But by what I have read CM is giving you the reality.

And to be fair a lot of the KLM cityhopper flights at AMS don’t use the jet bridge they use the remote stands near runway 24. So just because they don’t use the bridge doesn’t mean it’s bad customer service.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I would say any airline offering a business class service should use an air bridge. Not to do so would seriously undermine the offering.

Admin: Feel free to move to another thread.

 

[tonysmith]

I think that these posts are now a bridge too far.

 

[Aviador]

Not sure why Sherburnflyer seems to single out the airbridge as being different. It's just another function of the ground handling team to operate alongside everything else. You can't seperate the airbridge out from their other duties, and frankly, it's not even high priority. The other jobs are more important and if not done will cause delays. The air bridge makes no difference. They are nice to have but not essential. Which is probably why Swissport handled flights are not using them and why it would be ridiculous for LBA to pull staff off their usual jobs to operate them. If they are not doing their normal job, someone else has to do it. Then other problems arise.

Like CM that's my last post on the subject. We will have to agree to disagree.

Not so much at LBA but air bridges are a fundamental part of most airports and if LBA is to attract additional full service airlines in the future we should be ensuring equipment such as air bridges are maintained and used.

Some may say it is insignificant but I for one wouldn't be happy heading down the steps on a stand which has an air bridge at Leeds. Just as I wouldn't be happy at having to walk on a switched off travellator at Mancester or a switched off escalator at Heathrow.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Bet they make sure it's available if BA return, or even IPS.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Not sure why Sherburnflyer seems to single out the airbridge as being different. It's just another function of the ground handling team to operate alongside everything else. You can't seperate the airbridge out from their other duties, and frankly, it's not even high priority.

Maybe because the charges KLM will receive will be higher, not by much, but none the less a higher charge for KLM who will have signed up to use the airbridge. If the ground handler cannot provide that function, given the lighter schedule for KLM, it’s not much for the airport step in and ensure it’s operated.

As a customer of KLM I would not be happy at stepping off onto stairs and not now we heading towards winter. As a customer like KLM I would not be happy at receiving piss poor service because “lack of trained staff” coupled with then the excuse in your eyes that “it’s not that high priority”. It’s about damnn time the airport KLM and swissport sat down and worked out how to rectify this problem.