Bournemouth Airport’s decision to take over ground handling services from an external operator has been hailed a success.
The airport, owned and operated by Regional & City Airports (RCA), now provides its own handling services including passenger, ramp, aircraft cleaning, dispatch and de-icing.
Around 60 full-time posts were transferred from the previous licence holder; no jobs were lost.
Stephen Gill, Bournemouth Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We took the strategic decision to insource ground handling as we continue to grow and invest in our portfolio of services, as is the case at other RCA airports. We have worked closely with our employees and airline customers throughout the transition and are pleased with the efficiencies we are seeing.”
The transfer reflects a strategic approach to management and best practice across RCA, the airport management division of Rigby Group plc which acquired Bournemouth Airport two years ago in December 2017.
The employment contracts of staff at the previous operator transferred over to Bournemouth Airport in April 2019 under TUPE (Transfer of Undertaking) legislation.
Meanwhile, new routes have been added to the airport’s destination list for Summer 2020.
They include the stunning Greek islands of Skiathos, in the Aegean Sea, and Zante, in the Ionian Sea.
Skiathos, a filming location for the hit Abba-themed movie Mamma Mia!, and Zante, home to turtle nesting beaches, are run by TUI from May to October and May to September respectively.
TUI is also introducing new 10 and 11-night holidays to mid-haul hotspot Antalya, on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, and providing more duration options for customers.
From next November, for Winter 2020, there is the return of TUI flights to Sharm El Sheikh, on a Saturday, from Bournemouth.
There is also an extra flight to Tenerife from Bournemouth from November, giving customers more flexibility and the choice of 7, 10, 11 and 14-night holidays.
Details of flights from Bournemouth Airport, which saw 708,869 passengers go through the terminal over 12 months to March 31, are available in the Fly Bournemouth 2020 preview.
Countries reached from Bournemouth include Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greek Islands, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Spain – Balearics, Spain – Canaries, Switzerland and Turkey.
There is also fly/cruise Caribbean, through P&O Cruises, as well as Lapland, Arctic and the Northern Lights.
Short breaks also include year-round Dublin with Ryanair, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Ryanair and TUI are the principal airlines at Bournemouth Airport, which employs 230 staff.
Elsewhere at the airport, there are plans for a business park with one million sq ft of new commercial floor space, creating up to 1,900 jobs, and dedicated investment in cargo services and facilities for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
In May, global aviation company Gama Aviation Plc officially opened a 135,000 sq ft MRO base at the airport, underlining Bournemouth’s reputation as a flagship aviation hub in southern England.
A new executive lounge is also scheduled to open at Bournemouth Airport in 2020.