WFS’ new cost-plus ground handling model wins easyJet contract in Edinburgh
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has commenced a five-year ground handling contract at Edinburgh Airport with easyJet, the launch airline customer for its new cost-plus business model in the Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) region.
WFS is now providing passenger and baggage handling services as well as ramp handling for 13,000 easyJet flights a year. easyJet is the largest airline in Edinburgh and flies four million passengers a year from the Scottish capital to destinations across its European network including London, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.
Under the terms of the contract, WFS is responsible for easyJet’s check-in, bag drop, boarding, baggage loading, aircraft reconfiguration and push-back at Edinburgh Airport, and vice versa for arriving flights and customers.
Will Facey, EVP Ground Handling, Europe Middle East Africa & Asia (EMEAA) at WFS, said: “This is a major new contract which significantly supports our ground handling growth strategy. Our operation and team in Edinburgh are focused on easyJet and we have put in a lot of time and investment to ensure we are delivering our services from the airline’s and customers’ perspective because we care about how the easyJet performs. We are very pleased with the way the contract has started. We want to be a part of what makes both the airport company and easyJet in Edinburgh successful.”
The new contract is the first opportunity for WFS to demonstrate its fresh alternative to traditional ground handling. It has created a flexible and transparent cost-plus approach designed to give airlines the operational resilience they need, the highest levels of safety and security, and the timely and professional airport experience passengers deserve.
“Our plans to grow our ground handling business – which is focused on serving narrow-body, high volume airline operations – give us the opportunity to bring something fresh to the market to improve the quality of handling for airlines, airports and passengers. It replaces the traditional industry approach of contracts based solely on aircraft turns. Our contracts are flexible, realistic and commercially balanced. If an airline customer wants more, we put more in and they pay for it. If they want less, we take it out and the cost goes with it. At every point we are fully transparent. It’s about having a balanced relationship, which is resilient, honest and open. Ultimately, this is about giving our customers’ customers the quality of service they expect so they will want to fly with them again and again,” Will Facey added.
