Picture credit: Menzies Aviation
Founded in January 2023, ASUK has gained support from nine companies with around 15,000 ground services workers across the UK – giving the sector a collective voice both within the airline industry and at government level.
Members include Swissport, Menzies Aviation, DHL and ABM joining the association alongside Jet2, dnata, GH London, Cobalt Ground Solutions and CFL.
ASUK was created to give a voice to ground services firms following major disruption to passengers across the UK and Europe in the spring and summer of 2022. It is headed up by David Leighton FRSA, former Cabinet Office advisor and Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing at Associated British Ports.
He said: “Ground services is a complex, challenging and vitally important industry, and its voice needs to be heard loud and clear.
“ASUK members do an incredible job, in very demanding circumstances, every hour of every day. Together, they are keeping the UK flying.
“It is our responsibility to help build a resilient, safe and thriving sector that supports and drives a world-leading aviation industry.”
In 2023, ASUK members handled more than one million flights arriving at, and departing from, UK airports. They support more than 1.5 million jobs and contribute around £5.47 billion annually to the economy.
