American Airline self handling @ LHR?

[TugN4]

Hi Everyone

I saw a job advert for Ramp and Crew Chiefs for American Airlines at Heathrow.
I thought they were taken over by British Airways, I've been looking for information but can't find any.

Has anybody got any information on whats going on? It's great to see a airline self handle back at LHR. I really thought it was going to be all ground handling companies.

P.S if people are interested I saw the advert on Aviation Job Search, closing date is the 24th November.

[cjhants]

Yes, it seems that after 2 years of using BA, they have had enough and will start to self handle again from end January.

[groundagent]

Looks to me like the role is on the baggage make up area and not a ramp agent. Role is probably titled based on history when the ramp agents did baggage make up and aircraft loading, but now is just baggage make up and delivery to aircraft side when the new T3 facility opens. Looks like B A still do the aircraft loading.


From the ad - The post holder will be responsible for the reconciliation, loading and unloading of customer baggage in a state of the art baggage facility. The role also entails the safe transportation of customers’ baggage to and from the aircraft parking area.


That's my guess but could be wrong.


GA

[TugN4]

Thanks for the replys

[TugN4]

I'm surprised it's not the talk of the ramp. I work on the ramp and only heard about this couple of days ago.

I guess without the old Skyport rag, things like this can go unnoticed theses days lol

[victor tango]

tugn4
Dont they produce Skyport any more then?

Was a good read years ago:sad:

[TugN4]

Hi Victor Tango

They stopped printing the Skyport about 2-3years ago I think. I got a text from a old mate about the AA job today lol. I hope more airlines go self handling( more chance of winning the lotto)

[TugN4]

Morning Guys

I was told yesterday that AA are going to self handle from 1st February, then a month later the ramp side of things start.

[Vezza14]

Any one have any experience of working for ASIG at Heathrow? Have got an interview soon, just wondering what they were like as a company? I have worked for other handling agents but not at heathrow. Thanks

[The96er]

Menzies have been awarded the ramp handling contract for American Airlines at LHR starting May.

Menzies Aviation - Press Releases (http://www.menziesaviation.com/item/detail/p/3/id/718/ref/Menzies-Aviation%27s-success-spans-hemispheres-as-contracts-are-signed-in-New-Zealand-&-UK)

[Airportlhr001]

Why Menzies won the contract I don't no. :eek:

And why are American Airlines looking for crew chiefs and baggage loaders if it's not going back in house?

BA only handled 2 years out of the 5 year contract

If anyone I thought dnata would of got the contract as they have just started handling them (the ex us airways) along with ba.

..?

:ok:

[TugN4]

Hi All

I know quite a lot of guys at ASIG applying and backing down once they hear about the pay.

Part Time is £14800 including shift allowance.Full Time is £1900 including shift allowance

[cjhants]

I'd heard AA were buying their own baggage tugs and trailers and were going to handle baggage themselves, with the other ramp functions going to Menzies.

[aviationguy2015]

hello all,
has anyone else heard anymore detail relating to the American airlines positions, is the full time baggage position definitely under £20k inc shift also are american airlines giving concessions to their baggage guys?? has anyone seen a sample of the contracts they offering

[TugN4]

Hi there

The full time money is under 20 and the team leader pay is 21k. You do get flights and sickness after 3months. Your sickness days increase every year, max is about 160 day after 7-8 years service. I don't know what the shift pay is like.

I know they are offering a lot of part time position compared to the full time positions.

Does anybody know when they actually begin their operations, I went round t3 didn't see any tugs or dollies if they are starting next month?

[cjhants]

I think they are intending to start their own baggage from mid Feb.

I hear Singapore may be leaving ASIG for Menzies, and that JAL are leaving BA, but not sure where they will end up.

Anybody got any news?

[aviationguy2015]

good evening all,
i feel very skeptical about as to what american airlines intentions are in the past all these airlines have sold their baggage/ramp departments to handlers due to the mounting costs to airlines and the simply find it cheaper to give it to handlers.... whats stopping American airlines from giving menzies or any handler of that matter their baggage contract in a few years time once there bag times are restored ????.... i hear alot of guys from dnata are going to american i was under the impression that would be a drop in pay for them likewise with ASIG staff???

[Airportlhr001]

It's all up in the air ba haven't signed anything over yet, the American contract is tied in with JAl and royal Jordanian and ba won't to offload all of them but there making it vary difficult as it was 5 year contract @ a bargain price & some of the ex aa stuff are paid a mint and they are going to have transfer over to new handler

I'm I correct in saying only ba and united self handle at lhr?

[Skipness One Echo]

Air Canada are still in house.
Why do American *want* to go back in house if BA are offering them a good deal?

[cjhants]

Skip
Air Canada have been ramp handled by ASIG since mid 2014.
Have heard conflicting stories about who dumped who with AA and BA.
I hear that JAL and Jordanian will also be leaving BA soon, so it may be that BA has decided not to take on 3rd party handling.
I also hear the Dnata have got back Singapore, which they lost last year

[TugN4]

Yes Singapore Airlines is going back to DNATA 20th Feb. I heard that Air India/TAP may come to ASIG.

[cjhants]

Air India only went to Azzurra end Nov 14?

[ryan1995]

Just looked on Cobalt's website and it states that they have won the JAL contract

[aviationguy2015]

yes ASIG has lost the singapore airlines contract to DNATA based upon they can provide the cargo transport as well in the same deal! ASIG has gained air india i have been told but will be handling it in november when it transfers to T2. i still cant believe that American airlines are paying such low salaries especially in todays economy surly they will find it hard to fill those vacancies considering the pay scale regardless of the concessions as im sure people will consider how they going to pay mortgages/childcare etc on under £20k despite many of the handler pay £22k upwards i know that ASIG pay £23,488 inc shift

[Airportlhr001]

Well BA still doing towing and pushbacks for American but menzies state on the website that they will be doing this from 1st feb now 4th any info?

[British Grenadier]

My mate says dnata still doing US Air till May .......

[tony2574]

AA are recruiting staff for head loaders and spur, Menzies will provide equipment support while AA run their own bags. Give it a year or so and they will be self handled. Menzies losing contracts hand over fist at LHR, they are concentrating on Cargo, more profit, share price has taken a battering over the past 2 years.

[Ihadadream]

Agreed Tony,
But Menzies brought in one of the more reliable guys to take over towards the end of last year. Henderson is more old school and reliable from what I have heard.

[Habana2118]

Menzies has signed with American Airlines for three years. So not overly short term. On a separate subject I wonder how much longer it will be before Cobalt and Azzura get taken over by one of the biggies? I would say Aviator will try to get into LHR before long and with Menzies, Swissport, Dnata and ASIG all present it could get interesting over next year or two.

[Ihadadream]

Aviator is making some interesting moves in the UK market. But let's be blunt - we don't need more fighting and price cutting per turn. What we need is a handful of players who will stand there and say the price per turn is XX. And the other handlers agree.
You gets what ya pays!

[Airportlhr001]

I see that British airways are training the all new american baggage staff and Menzies in T3,
All the old ex AA staff been told they can stay with ba and won't be transferring to Menzies which their pleased about.

Won't be long and american will be fully self handled. (Well 3 years)

[Airportlhr001]

Talk about a headache for american

British airways doing loading
Menzies doing pushback
American doing baggage

And on stand next door american being fully handled by dnata

[401167H]

"And on stand next door american being fully handled by dnata"

not quite .. they're US Air flights, but using AA-liveried aircraft.