Gibraltar and Gibair

[mansp]

Apparently the contract for Gibraltar and Gibair Handling is up for tender in April.

Curious, because it is a MOD contract and Gibair cannot loose money because they are always backed up by the government and have had the contract since forever would anyone else bid?

We all know that Gibair is crap, just curious if it would be a financial benefit to someone like Swissport or Menzies?

thoughts?

[rog747]

Is Gibair Handling still owned by the famous 'family' >? (as in Gibair, Bland Group, and the Gaggeros)

I know they offloaded GB Airways back in 2008 to Easyjet....

[VickersVicount]

Is Gibair Handling still owned by the famous 'family' >? (as in Gibair, Bland Group, and the Gaggeros)

I know they offloaded GB Airways back in 2008 to Easyjet....
Still owned by Bland Group

[Derry321]

I would say even if anyone else did tender (and based on daily movements plus regular disruption, I am not sure why anyone would with the capital outlay that would be required), Bland Group (therefore Gibair) would be awarded in any case. Politicians on The Rock, from experience, generally do not upset the family as their influence can and would change an election result (margins for such are very small due to the size of the population)

[nivsy]

I would say even if anyone else did tender (and based on daily movements plus regular disruption, I am not sure why anyone would with the capital outlay that would be required), Bland Group (therefore Gibair) would be awarded in any case. Politicians on The Rock, from experience, generally do not upset the family as their influence can and would change an election result (margins for such are very small due to the size of the population)
Not at all. Assuming this is still and remains a MOD contract. Tendering costs money and any company deciding to bid for this would be within rights to raise a challenge via lawyers should should they believe there has not been open, clear and transparent tendering arrangements. Plus it is the UK not Gibraltar Govt that would.run the process and the UK Procurement Team do not carry out tendering duties lightly. They are also under close scrutiny. Expressions of Interest will most likely first be sought to judge the market and appetite for competitive tendering by Industry. Decision will
be made thereafter to proceed or recommend single source solution. TUPE rules and regulations apply in Gibraltar.

[compton3bravo]

Maybe you don't understand the machinations of Gibraltar and how a small number of families on the Rock have so much influence in all walks of life. I agree with Derry and Rog. Nobody would get a look in.
Having lived close by for a number of years and used the airport on numerous occasions Gibair is by far the worst handling company I have ever come across. On one occasion there two aircraft on turnround - one Monarch and one BA. They managed to get the gates mixed up so Monarch pax were waiting to board the BA flight and vice versa resulting in the Monarch flight (which I was on) missing its slot and presumably the BA aircraft had the same problem. These were the only two passenger movements all day.

[nivsy]

Maybe you don't understand the machinations of Gibraltar and how a small number of families on the Rock have so much influence in all walks of life. I agree with Derry and Rog. Nobody would get a look in.
Having lived close by for a number of years and used the airport on numerous occasions Gibair is by far the worst handling company I have ever come across. On one occasion there two aircraft on turnround - one Monarch and one BA. They managed to get the gates mixed up so Monarch pax were waiting to board the BA flight and vice versa resulting in the Monarch flight (which I was on) missing its slot and presumably the BA aircraft had the same problem. These were the only two passenger movements all day.
With respect..know it, lived it worked it. And yes in Procurement (in Gibraltar).

[barry lloyd]

I came through there on Wednesday (24th) Check-in was OK, but to have someone checking your boarding pass and passport again not ten metres away from where you checked in, before you go into security seems unnecessary. The whole security system is medieval. Only one scanner, (a Mk1 version by the look of it), was working, despite the long queue and the fact that I counted 12 staff on duty. They seem to have a thing about cameras. I took mine out of the bag and they then insisted on swabbing it - twice. This is the first time since security measures were first introduced, that I have ever had to produce a camera in this way, but I suppose it keeps them looking busy.
The staffing level in general at the airport, which sometimes only handles one flight a day, seems like the ultimate job creation scheme to me.

[mansp]

Some interesting comments, the contract is decided by the GOG, not the UK gov, even though it is a Mod contract.

Concerning the checking off docs from CI to security does it really matter what the distance is? Two different document checks, one for the airline and one for departures.

My other question is, if another H/A wanted to bid, how would they actually know it was out for tender? I believe that they only advertise it in the gibraltar chronical. (I could be wrong)

[nivsy]

MoD contracts on Gib are not "decided". (awarded) by the Gib Govt. The appointed evaluation team can be made up from SMEs across the divide which may include suitably qualified evaluation members of all interested parties before being considered via recommendation to the appointed Management team for decision which could include Gib Govt rep(s). If it's a MoD contract and process then all tender documents, evaluation matrix, tender return scrutiny, recommendation and award are run by MoD.

Advertising by the MoD is not in the Chronicle albeit various, publications, journals , outlets and magazines can refer to where opportunity can be sought to enhance awareness. MoD have in place varies means of advising and advertising ongoing tenders throughout their procurement remit where potential tenderers can view opportunities, as example the MoD Acquisition Timeline.
Non MoD contracts on Gibraltar, for contracts run and operated by the Gib Govt are processed under their own rules and regulations.



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[Derry321]

It is my understanding that the Handling tender is handled by the GoG though through the Ministry of Enterprise/Transport etc. as opposed to MOD?

The last tender invitation document I can find (back in 2017) seems to confirm this. Isn't the terminal fully owned by the Government of Gibraltar?

[nivsy]

It is my understanding that the Handling tender is handled by the GoG though through the Ministry of Enterprise/Transport etc. as opposed to MOD?

The last tender invitation document I can find (back in 2017) seems to confirm this. Isn't the terminal fully owned by the Government of Gibraltar?
If that is the case, which is indeed plausible, and nothing to do with the UK MoD, then the jurisdiction and tendering process (should it ever be done) is solely the responsibility of the Gib authorities and nothing whatsoever to do with the procurement teams and processes required of the UK MoD.
Ah Gib, always interesting!