Swissport loses LGW airline baggage contract
Back to Forum- This topic has 37 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 2 Aug 2014
at 16:01 by canucklad.
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AMcWhirterParticipantBaggage handling agent Swissport has lost two contracts from Monarch Airlines following poor levels of service..
According to the BBC, Swissport has failed to deliver the airport’s service standards.
Besides terminating Swissport’s Gatwick contract, Monarch has also terminated the one at Manchester.
31 Jul 2014
at 13:10
Gin&TonicParticipantIt’s encouraging to see such a decision being made public, whilst I personally could not comment on which ground handling agent is or isn’t better than another, given the trouble for passengers especially at LGW recently it’s at least some vindication.
31 Jul 2014
at 13:53
TominScotlandParticipantGives you real confidence when you read that Swissport is owned by:
PAI is a major European private equity firm and is the largest private equity investor headquartered in France. It is one of Europe’s oldest and most experienced investors with its origins dating back to the original investment business of Paribas, which started operations in 1872.
PAI manages and advises dedicated private equity funds with a total equity value of €4.3 billion. Since 1994, PAI has led 50 buyout investments in 10 European countries, for a value of almost €36 billion.
PAI makes controlling investments in leveraged buyouts acquiring majority stakes in mid to large size European companies that are leaders in our five core sectors.
PAI has a team of nearly 50 highly experienced professionals from very diverse backgrounds. With professionals from nine European countries and teams in Paris, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Munich and Stockholm, PAI combines local market depth with strong pan-European capabilities and perspective.
31 Jul 2014
at 14:30
Gin&TonicParticipantyou are safe not swissport
https://www.swissport.com/network/network-detail/?busiId=394&cHash=f93b6ea28a56285f10be99f64b1f00f5
31 Jul 2014
at 15:18
BigDog.ParticipantMore airlines to follow sacking swissport?
.. “The root cause of this situation is the dysfunctional nature of airline industry subcontracting. Airlines want the servicing companies to provide a premium product in terms of aircraft handling, check-in and baggage facilities whilst paying rock bottom prices…
31 Jul 2014
at 16:06
openflyParticipantRumours from within LGW are that BA is also dumping Swissport and that a new IAG Handling company is on the cards. Things have got so bad with Swissport that this is the only action. Basically BA is taking its handling back in-house, under the IAG umbrella. Makes good sense….. I think!!
31 Jul 2014
at 19:34
greyhawkgeoffParticipantwhen I arrived at LGW recently – July 20, there were no problems with my bags from TPA, but at the adjacent carousel BA were profusely apologising that the bags off of an MCO flight were much delayed by their agents Swissport. I have to admit that I cannot ever recall any airline doing such and naming the agent involved. The blame game was well under way.
31 Jul 2014
at 20:06
openflyParticipantAlong the same lines, I was delayed at LGW on the aircraft two weeks ago.
After a few minutes the Capt came on the PA and said ” I must apologise for the lengthy delay to our departure. We have been let down, yet again, on the baggage loading by our dreadful third party handling agent, Swissport “. He was obviously so fed up with the happenings. You could hear the frustration in his voice. But, very brave to say it so publicly. We appreciated his honesty.
1 Aug 2014
at 06:28
HarryMonkParticipant“The root cause of this situation is the dysfunctional nature of airline industry subcontracting. Airlines want the servicing companies to provide a premium product in terms of aircraft handling, check-in and baggage facilities whilst paying rock bottom prices…”
This quote came from someone representing the Unite Union. Rather than blaming the arilines perhaps he should be asking Swissport why they sign such contracts. Swisport always have the option to decline to tender if its not financially or logistically viable
1 Aug 2014
at 06:59
SimonS1ParticipantExactly. All businesses want their suppliers to provide the best service at the lowest price. The airlines are no different.
Maybe the Union rep involved should quiz the CEO of Swissport at Gatwick as to why their record is so abysmal. To help him out the email address is <a href="mailto:[email protected]“>[email protected].
Shame because a lot of the hard work done to improve the experience at LGW is coming undone due to numpties like Swissport. Hopefully a few more airlines will sack them and find people more reliable.
1 Aug 2014
at 07:58
BigDog.Participant@ SimonS1 – 01/08/2014 07:58 GMT
…”Exactly. All businesses want their suppliers to provide the best service at the lowest price. The airlines are no different”…Actually Simon you couldn’t be more wrong. Decent companies seek to partner suppliers not screw every last penny from them. Many well run ethical companies discard the lowest bid as they leave little slack and could well result in the Swissport scenario.
Example maybe Waitrose v the more down market ones. Waitrose choses not to screw their farmer suppliers and get a better product and trusted supply as a result.
When the bean counters run the business, the focus is expenses reduction and not quality/reliable service provision.
It is easy for the airline to point fingers at their supplier whether it is catering, lounge management, ticketing, baggage etc however, as a customer my contract is with the airline, period. Resorting to blame the subcontractor (whom they engaged) is desperate and shows the paucity of their management acumen and excessive synaptic pruning.
I agree with your final point though Simon, LGW has already been tarnished with the North Terminal floods/power/communication issues from winter and questions are being asked as to their suitability for expansion. This will do their image no favours, however credit to them for bringing in baggage crews to help resolve the problem.
1 Aug 2014
at 08:31 -
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