"...when in actual fact it can't be helped by the airlines themselves..."
NCL1 - what planet do you live on?
Airlines bear a huge responsibility for the level of service thier passengers receive at NCL and other airports. They consistently want to talk about quality and OTP EXCEPT when it comes around to contract time and they have to open their purses.
There is loads of evidence that airlines crank up their internal complaints about service level provision in the 3 months before contract renewal in order to have the upper hand when they get to the negotiatiing table.
Most people would be shocked to learn what Swissport and Servisair receive for providing ground handling to their customers.
Take an A319 in a bright colour or a B737 with removeable seats - anyone want to hazard a guess at what they get for providing ticket desk (no commission), check-in, meet/board, load control, dispatch and full ramp handling?
Go on - what do you think?
Ticket desk staff x 1
Check-in x 2
Boarding team x 2
Dispatcher x 1
Ramp team x 4
Meet x 1
+ load control, allocation, supervision etc.
+ ground servicing equipment
+ check-in/DCS systems
never mind the accommodation, communication, management etc. and, oh, that essential part of any business PROFIT.