The Players in Airport Ground Handling:a New Typology Reflecting the International Expansion

Abstract

The paper deals with the global nature of some players in airport ground handling industry. We provide a comprehensive overview of factors that cause fragmentation in the ground handling industry to explain the context in which global players develop their business internationally. Using the modified versions of UNCTAD Geographical Spread Indices we investigate several ground handlers and design a new typology of ground handlers according to their international expansion: key global ground handlers, key interregional international ground, key international intraregional ground handlers and locally important handlers. Adding the dimension of product portfolio we create a two­dimensional grid enabling to analyse evolution of ground handling industry to reflect international expansion of key players in different ground handling services. Arguing via the organic growth and consolidation examples, we assume the shift of the industry towards multiproduct ground handling companies with extensive international presence in all world regions.

Keywords

• ground handling; airport; liberalisation; deregulation; geographical spread
• product portfolio
• international expansion