newstodate.aero
Feb 24, 2010 (newstodate): Several airlines operating at Denmark's Copenhagen Airport are highly critical of development around unsolved security issues and ensuing costs burdens on export cargo from the airport carried on passenger aircraft.
The issues concern lack of integration of export cargo transportation from terminals to aircraft stands crossing the line between the "soft" and the "hard" security zones.
The lack of integration requires handling companies to provide own solutions entailing extra costs on the carriers.
Several airlines, including the Latvian carrier airBaltic, are considering a stop to cargo operations into Copenhagen if the issue does not find a suitable solution.
-The issue surfaced with very short notice, and we had an offer from our ground handling provider, NOVIA, for a security guard to accompany the truck with our shipments, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic Head of Cargo.
-I cannot of course disclose the cost entailed, however I told the two handling providers NOVIA and World Flight Services that if this proves to be the case, we will put an embargo on cargo in Copenhagen Airport straight away.
-I am not trying to twist anybody's hands. But Copenhagen Airport is already very expensive, and this additional charge would totally wipe out any contribution we can make from cargo. It is as simple as that.
-We had a meeting with our terminal handling provider, WFS, and I was told that many airlines held the same view and that there are talks going between involved parties. I was also told that a wrapping solution is considered, however I have not yet seen a calculation of the costs involved.
-When the full picture is available, we will decide on the future for airBaltic's export cargo from Copenhagen Airport. We are on very tiny margins in Copenhagen already, says Mr Andersons.
The issue is today on the agenda at the monthly meeting of the airport's Airline Operators Committee, where Copenhagen Airport officials will face the critics and outline their proposals for a solution to the problems.
The issues concern lack of integration of export cargo transportation from terminals to aircraft stands crossing the line between the "soft" and the "hard" security zones.
The lack of integration requires handling companies to provide own solutions entailing extra costs on the carriers.
Several airlines, including the Latvian carrier airBaltic, are considering a stop to cargo operations into Copenhagen if the issue does not find a suitable solution.
-The issue surfaced with very short notice, and we had an offer from our ground handling provider, NOVIA, for a security guard to accompany the truck with our shipments, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic Head of Cargo.
-I cannot of course disclose the cost entailed, however I told the two handling providers NOVIA and World Flight Services that if this proves to be the case, we will put an embargo on cargo in Copenhagen Airport straight away.
-I am not trying to twist anybody's hands. But Copenhagen Airport is already very expensive, and this additional charge would totally wipe out any contribution we can make from cargo. It is as simple as that.
-We had a meeting with our terminal handling provider, WFS, and I was told that many airlines held the same view and that there are talks going between involved parties. I was also told that a wrapping solution is considered, however I have not yet seen a calculation of the costs involved.
-When the full picture is available, we will decide on the future for airBaltic's export cargo from Copenhagen Airport. We are on very tiny margins in Copenhagen already, says Mr Andersons.
The issue is today on the agenda at the monthly meeting of the airport's Airline Operators Committee, where Copenhagen Airport officials will face the critics and outline their proposals for a solution to the problems.