For the record it was Servisair that terminated easyjet and not the other way round. Contracts were at various stages of their duration around the airports effected but EZY wanted to squeeze their handling fees and used the standard process for cranking that in. Servisair did not want to do business at the new rates so ended the contract. Had Servisair not ended the contract EZY would have invoked their termination clause so the change dates are about the same. Such is the handling business these days.
The fact that Thomas Cook has a 5 year deal with Menzies actually means very little other than negotiated rates that can be changed during the contract and a mutual termination clause that is probably around the 90 day mark.
I feel for the staff who have worked hard on the EZY product around the track. Just as it will be difficult for Menzies staff at MAN if the change is, in fact, true.
Who is making money in the airline handling business is a good question.
The 3 big players - Menzies, Servisair and Swissport (alphabetical - not size or anything esle!) are all global and are all into various lines of aviation support so, even though the market as whole is hurting, some parts are still very profitable and can help out the group as a whole.
For example - menzies Cargo is a very strong brand and does well in the Far East and Europe; Servisair have a massive fuelling operation in the US as well as a fuel brokering business which has helped out over the years; Swissport are very strong in some parts of Europe with near monopolies at some big airports.
Interestingly, Gate is flexing its muscles at a time when the market is downsizing - either they have a very good strategy or they have miss-timed their expansion plans in Europe.
Only time will tell.
Good luck to all the staff affected by the changes around the business.
GH