ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the positions taken by the groups in the case studies of ground-handling and slot-allocation. Ground-handling is an essential service required by airlines at all the airports which they operate from. The relative cost of this service to airlines has a considerable bearing on their economic efficiency. Airlines are customers of ground-handling services. The initial pro-liberalising airlines wished to insert an amendment to the position of the Association of European Airlines airlines on the matter of ‘self-handling’. European Regional Airlines Association stated that regional airlines were often ‘discriminated’ against by ground-handlers, hence the increased need for a greater choice in the selection of ground-handlers by regional airlines. In France the elite airport interest, Airports de Paris may appear to the casual observer to have a liberalised ground-handling market, as there are three ground-handlers to choose from at each of the airports under its control.
