LCY ground handling situation.

[aex]

A Cityjet cabin crew member told me that Cobalt GS will be shutting down their LCY operation as a new and much cheaper ground handling agent is coming in, browsing on the internet I found Aria Logistics, their website is www.arialogistics.eu

Has anyone heard anything?

To be honest I find it a bit strange that Cobalt GS will shut down LCY all together.

[STN Ramp Rat]

TUPE

Just changing the name of the agent does not allow the handler to reduce the staff costs. they would be obliged to take the Cobalt staff on their existing terms and conditions

[aex]

True, I don't really see how they can cut costs so much. I think it could just be a rumour. But anyone know whether Cobalt are leaving LCY?

[Skipness One Echo]

Cobalt handle ALL non Air France numbered commercial traffic so would seem unlikely unless Air France / CityJet are going to be taking over some of this business keeping it in the group. Would BA really risk an untried newbie on their flagship LCY-JFK service?

[aex]

Let's not forget that ramp handling is done by London City Airport, so maybe a lot of airlines will just be okay with changing to Aria Logistics for passenger handling/ramp supervision and keeping some supervision.

I don't really see the point for Cityjet in keeping their own ground handling, as Cobalt is part of the same group.

[marlowe]

Is there ant truth in the rumour that Cobalt have lost the BA contract at LCY?

[OpsSix]

From what I hear, Aria have indeed won the BA contract.

CityJet handling is still carried out with staff employed through Aviation Resource and I'm sure Aria gained some staff through the same channel with others taken from Cobalt.

LCY provide the baggage handling, marshallers etc.

[marlowe]

Hmm so in affect everybody is handled by the same agents again, but a different company and name. So apart from a cost point of view as i am sure they will be cheaper than Cobalt, no airline is going to gain from a more personalised handling experience at LCY. Perhaps BA should have stayed with Cobalt, then at least they would have had a more dedicated handling agent for their needs. I wonder why BA didnt see that as an option?

[aex]

So the situation that we'll see in the next few months in terms of passenger handling and ramp supervision will be Cityjet self-handling, Aria handling all other airlines?

Anyone know whether Swiss and Lufthansa are transferring to Aria as well?

I can't see two third party handling agents remaining in LCY.

[Skipness One Echo]

BA are turning over their LCY handling operation to a company without a website? Blimey!

A newly formed company with an innovative approach to ground handling, non-stop timely attention to detail, top safety ethos and five star customer service.

Um...translates as "We have no track record but will do the job for much cheapness." Are the COBALT staff being made redundant?

[groundagent]

Um...translates as "We have no track record but will do the job for much cheapness

I've heard a rumour that Aria is set up by a senior person who has extensive knowledge of running ground handling in LCY so this may inspire more confidence (although it is rumour and not fact). I am sure there will be a selection of good people who would want to transfer across if this is the case from AFS and Cobalt.

Are the COBALT staff being made redundant?

I would be very surprised if they were as this would be covered by TUPE.

[marlowe]

Big step for BA, as pointed out the company dont even have a working website!! one assumes they have been given some reassurances by Aria?

[aex]

Interesting to note that Aria's offices are based in Heathrow airport, maybe they'll be opening a ground handling division in LHR as well.


@ marlowe: Last time I flew from LCY the Cobalt GS working at the BA check-in desks had a BA uniform so it wouldn't surprise me that they will all transfer to Aria Logistics.

[marlowe]

aex, I am sure the ground staff will be the subject of TUPE if they are to be transferred across to Aria. and i am sure they will apply the same standard of service that they do for Cobalt and the airlines they service, but the Aria management must have promised somethings to BA to get them to swap to them where as if BA had stayed with Cobalt they would have had an almost exclusive service from Cobalt at LCY, your own handling agent but without the overheads of having it in house sounds like the perfect set up.

[KOJAC]

LCY

Cobalt have lost all contracts at LCY to ARIA - ARIA run by ex Cobalt managers or so I'm told...Fair point made as to why BA would not stay with Cobalt for specialised service...They did wait for LX and LH to jump first, setup the handling and see how it went prior to changing themselves...something smells funny here!!

[Skipness One Echo]

What did Cobalt to so wrong to go from a virtual monopoly to station closure overnight?

[aex]

The Cityjet cabin crew told me that it was something to do with Cobalt being too expensive. Don't know if there is more to it.

[British Grenadier]

Would this mean the demise of Cobbalt ( frog's in clogs ) at T4 LHR ?? as Aria's Head Office address is just up the road

[aex]

No chance. Cobalt handle all KLM + Air France flights at T4 in LHR plus a lot of other airlines. Furthermore there had been rumours in the past that Alitalia's LHR ground handling division would be sold to Cobalt and the Italian airline would buy some of the shares.

[British Grenadier]

Not heard that one , did hear Cobbalt had approached DNATA about selling off to them ........