EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alwyn Brice tel: +44 1892 839212 e-mail: alwyn@groundhandling.com REGIONAL EDITOR Tej Fernandez e-mail: tejfernandez@pd.jaring.my PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Sherilee Clinch tel: +44 1892 839214 e-mail: sherilee@groundhandling.com DESIGNER Kevin Wong e-mail: kevin@key-editions.com INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Alison Woolley tel: +44 1892 839208 e-mail: alison@groundhandling.com CIRCULATION Dar Breeze tel: +44 1892 839206 e-mail: dar@groundhandling.com CONFERENCE DIRECTOR Jean Ang tel: +44 1892 839203 e-mail: jean@groundhandling.com ACCOUNTS AND ADMINISTRATION Peter Thompson tel: +44 1892 839211 e-mail: peter@groundhandling.com CONTRIBUTORS Maurizio Anichini, Len Kirsch, Neale Millett, Bob Schmitz & Carlos Teixeira Please note our contact details for all correspondence: Ground Handling International, The Stables, Willow Lane, Paddock Wood, Kent. TN12 6PF. United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 1892 839200 Facsimile: +44 (0) 1892 839210 E-mail: admin@groundhandling.com www.groundhandling.com ISSN number: 1364 – 8330 Ground Handling International is published in February, April, June, August, October & December. The annual subscription rate is US$272.00/£143.00/ 229.00. MICA (P) 151/07/2007 Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the nature or accuracy of such material to the extent permitted by applicable law. ©2008 The Airports Publishing Network Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or used in any form or by any means, without specific prior permission from the publisher. 41 CONTRACT New signings 42 IGHC PREVIEW Some of this 46 GHI/IGHC GOLF Ten years on… Practice makes perfect (p22) Expansion time (p48) 2 GHI NEWS Expansion in Dubai; new IAHA regional group and carbon footprint progress 4 INDUSTRY COMMENT Bob Schmitz underlines the worth of competition law 6 LEGAL COLUMN A matter of compliance, with Len Kirsch 7 PEOPLE Who’s on the move 8 IT NEWS RFID and scheduler updates 12 GROUND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE More news on the Dublin event 14 RAMP SAFETY AWARDS Have we had your entry? 16 GHI ASIAN CONFERENCE REVIEW A look back at the February event 20 CONTRACT FOCUS Handling the big one 22 WORLD ANALYSIS The US and Canada Front cover courtesy of GUINAULT 48 FACTORY VISIT The Irish connection 52 WEIGHING Easing back strain 59 CARGO NEWS 60 SIMULATION Pre-ramp practice 62 RAMP SAFETY Are you taking 64 ASU & GPU Power on the 68 IATA The IGHC in 69 GROUND HANDLING NEWS Need new GSE? 72 RAMP FORUM We hear that… Power to the people

2 APRIL 2008 GHI handling news ground Expansion in Poland Dnata’s operations at Dubai’s Terminal 2 are set to increase dramatically with the opening of a 37,000 square foot extension, which was scheduled for the end of March. This extension will increase the airport’s surface area to a total of 93,000 square feet. The expanded facilities will see Dnata servicing around 700 fl ights per week from Terminal 2, of which 320 will be cargo and the rest passenger. This is an increase of some 50% on current passenger loads and will represent a potential annual throughput of approximately 5m passengers. The new airport expansion will also involve a wealth of new facilities, including six open boarding gates to replace the current system of fi ve gates, each with a holding lounge, which is a fi rst for Dubai. Open boarding gates allow several fl ights to board simultaneously, help cut down traffi c fl ow and thereby signifi cantly reduce boarding times. Ahmed Langawi, Vice President Terminal 2 Operations, said: “We are very pleased to be working in conjunction with Dubai Civil Aviation, the owners of the airport, to bring these improvements to our commercial and cargo clients at Terminal 2. Since it was opened in 1998, Terminal 2 has enjoyed tremendous growth. Initially, the airport was built to cope with ten aircraft and had 22 check-in desks, one arrivals belt and fi ve departure gates. When the new extension is operational we will have 36 check-in desks, three arrivals belts and six open boarding gates. “Demand for the facilities at Terminal 2 has really taken off in recent years and we look forward to offering our new and existing customers state-of-the-art facilities in a more spacious environment.” Other new facilities at the Terminal 2 extension include a First and Business Class Lounge; a Marhaba Lounge; a Special Handling Lounge for passengers requiring extra assistance, such as wheelchair users or unaccompanied minors; extended duty-free premises; increased car parking; a left luggage store; a visa cancellation desk; a Dnata ticketing desk and additional refreshment stops, both before check-in and after passport control. Behind the scenes, the airport expansion will also include new facilities for Dnata staff, including dedicated offi ce space, a conference room and refreshment facilities, as well as learning resource and training centres, which allow staff to complete their training needs in a comfortable and easily accessible environment. Middle Eastern opportunities grow Gary Chapman, President of Group Services and Dnata (left), and Ismail Ali Albanna, Executive Vice President, Dnata, being given a tour of the new facilities by Ahmed Langawi, Vice President Terminal 2 Operations. Warsaw-based LOT GROUND SERVICES, which was established in 1992, continues to expand its functions. Today the handler employs nearly 1,600 staff and delivers a wide range of services including passenger and baggage handling, ramp services, load control and de /anti-icing. It is also involved with cargo, customs clearance and executive and corporate aircraft handling. In recent years Poland has witnessed a steady growth in all aviation-related matters. Since 2004, there has been a 25% increase annually in terms of passenger numbers whilst a 15% rise in aviation operations (including GA traffi c) has been recorded. Aviation authorities estimate that by 2010 Polish airports will be catering for almost 26.5m passengers, compared with last year’s total of 19m. Against this background Warsaw remains the leader of the pack with a 50% market share. For its part, during 2007 LGS handled 55,065 departing fl ights, 3.2m departing passengers and a total of 55.8m kilogrammes of cargo. Last year LGS introduced several new services. They included the collection of excess baggage charges and dispatch services for General Aviation clients, as well as for regular carriers and cargo airlines. Additionally, the Dispatch Department began offering fl ight planning services. The benefi ts of this service are perceived as a reduction in operating costs (through decreased fuel usage) and a more economic utilisation of the fl eet. To fulfi l airlines’ expectations, LGS has further introduced a Quick Transfer Centre, which provides passenger and baggage handling with very low turnaround times at an airline’s request. Added to that there is now a new training department, which runs courses such as dangerous goods handling for the benefi t of LGS handlers as well as for external companies. Moreover, the training department also liaises with IATA’s Authorised Training School. More recently, new carriers have been added to LGS’s portfolio. It now handles Air Italy, Euromediterranean and Futura. Two more contracts are currently being negotiated. “The target for the near future is to extend our operation to regional airports, and later on to provide our service abroad,” reveals Wojciech Znyk, the recently nominated Chairman of the Board at LGS. With the new Warsaw Terminal 2 just open, LGS is looking to a busy year ahead.