Interim Report - Introduction - EASA

INTERIM REPORT – DATA SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
EASA.2009.OP.21
The ownership and control of the independent service providers is a complex subject, and
beyond the scope of this study. In general, an independent service provider may be owned
by a single, as well as multiple, shareholders, such as:
− an aerodrome operator (e.g. Portground GmbH in Dresden and Leipzig, Tallinn Airport
GH Ltd)
− an airline (e.g. SAS Ground Services)
− a major ground handling company (Servisair, WISAG Aviation Service Holding, Swiss
Port)
− a state-owned company (RTG Ground Handling Oy in Finland)
As the provision of de-icing / anti-icing services is viewed by aerodromes as either essential
for their operations, or as simply good for business, aerodrome operators often directly
provide de-icing / anti-icing services, or have total or partial control over their independent
service providers.
Due to the frequent lack of commercial viability of the de-icing / anti-icing service business,
de-icing / anti-icing may have to be performed directly by the aerodrome (acting as a nonindependent
service provider) or be indirectly subsidised by other ground handling activities.
When services are provided by an independent service provider, owned by the aerodrome,
the responsibilities for de-icing / anti-icing overlap in some cases between the aerodrome
operator and the independent service provider: for instance, the aerodrome operator may
share resources (e.g. workforce) with the service provider. In such scenarios, there is
possibly a cross subsidisation of the de-icing / anti-icing activities from other sources of
revenue, leading to possible conflict of interests and thereby hindering competition.
However, according to the majority of stakeholders, the involvement of the aerodrome in deicing
/ anti-icing may benefit the airlines.
The provision of de-icing / anti-icing services, although listed as a ground handling service in
Council Directive 96/67/EC, is defined as an operational requirement (ICAO Annex 6/EU
OPS) essential to maintain and ensure airworthiness. Therefore, it should be best considered
as a safety critical function rather than a commercial activity.
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