Ground handling service provider Menzies has agreed a five-year deal with air transport IT specialist SITA for the implementation of its ground handling management technology at some of the largest airports in the company’s global portfolio.
SITA’s AirportResource Manager will help streamline Menzies’ operations by optimizing the deployment of mobile resources through intelligent and real-time decision-making. The new system will be used for planning, staff rostering, real-time scheduling and management, as well as reporting. The technology also allows employees out in the field to access and update information using mobile devices, providing a constant real-time picture of their operation.
The deal follows a successful trial at Oslo Airport in Norway in 2015 where the system was deployed in just six weeks. The new systems will be introduced at Gatwick and Heathrow airports in London in the UK, Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, Macau International Airport in China, and at Los Angeles International Airport in California and Seattle Tacoma International Airport in Washington in the USA. Additional airports in North America and Australia will follow later in 2016. The technology will eventually be introduced to all airports serviced by Menzies.
Steve Rick, senior vice president, support services at Menzies, said, “Airports are dynamic environments that require highly responsive operations management. With close to 150 airports in 31 countries, it is vital that we have a clear view of our operations at all times as well as the ability to respond to changes as they happen.
“The deployment of the systems not only enables more efficient operations but also benefits our customers and staff through our ability to optimize our operations in response to inevitable off-schedule activities. The system from SITA supports us by providing all the information we need to decide on how best to deploy our resources while enabling our operations teams to respond proactively to changes in our operating environment.”
Dave Bakker, SITA president, Europe, said, “For an operator whose network spans six continents and more than 500 airline customers, each with their own requirements, resource planning and management can be a challenge. SITA’s technology, hosted in the SITA ATI Cloud, eases that challenge by collating all the relevant information and providing real-time decision making on where mobile equipment and people can be best used, making sure that the needs of each customer are delivered in the most efficient manner.”
