As many readers know, ground handling activity in Spain has been driven by the AENA licence process. The preparation of the 22 small airport tenders (in three groups) was the focus of the first part of the year; now, the attention has shifted to the airports with more than 1m passengers. Iberia Airport Services is an active participant in this process, having already this year renewed or extended contracts with the likes of LAN, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, SAS and Aeroflot. New business has centred on Pullmantur Air and Ethiopian Airlines; and there has been additional activity with Aer Lingus.
Its confidence in the tendering process has led it to formulate a very ambitious investment plan that will take effect in conjunction with the new licence period. The plan includes high-tech and environmentally-friendly equipment; in the recent past, though, it has renewed its GSE requirements with Cobus for Euro 5 buses, and has invested in electric beltloaders and Commander high loaders, as part of its concern over the green situation.
