Interim Report - Introduction - EASA

INTERIM REPORT – OPTIONS FOR CHANGE – ATTACHMENT B
EASA.2009.OP.21
Whereas for certain categories of ground-handling services access to the market and selfhandling
may come up against safety, security, capacity and available-space constraints;
whereas it is therefore necessary to be able to limit the number of authorized suppliers of
such categories of ground-handling services; whereas it should also be possible to limit selfhandling;
Clause 12
Whereas if the number of suppliers of ground-handling services is limited effective
competition will require that at least one of the suppliers should ultimately be independent of
both the managing body of the airport and the dominant carrier;
Clause 11 can allow an aerodrome to limit the number of de-icing / anti-icing service
providers based on space constraints and also safety considerations. Clause 12 safeguards
against an aerodrome implementing this for financial gain.
If it was considered that risk could be reduced through limiting the number of de-icing / antiicing
service providers, then allowing aerodromes to apply this clause is an option.
The impact would be reduced commercial competition, and perhaps choice of service and
fluid available. With fewer service providers there would be less overall investment in
equipment and training etc which hitherto may be multiplied and duplicated across several
providers. However, the remaining provider(s), through larger revenue, would be in a
position to invest more money into equipment and training etc.
Clause 13
Whereas if airports are to function properly they must be able to reserve for themselves the
management of certain infrastructures which for technical reasons as well as for reasons of
profitability or environmental impact are difficult to divide or duplicate; whereas the
centralized management of such infrastructures may not, however, constitute an obstacle to
their use by suppliers of ground-handling services or by self-handling airport users;
Clearly the main de-icing / anti-icing infrastructures (ramp, pad, lights, signage) will be owned
and maintained by the aerodrome. Fluid storage and handling facilities can also be large
infrastructures, and in many cases the aerodrome owns these, however, these facilities may
be considerably cheaper to invest in, and maintain, than a fleet of de-icing / anti-icing
vehicles, which are mostly owned by the service providers. It may be argued that for
technical reasons and for those of economics an aerodrome may declare the fleet of de-icing
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