The Gulf Airports Services Association (GASA) said the region's ground handling industry will encounter greater competition and increased service demands as a result of ongoing airport development, rising passenger and cargo traffic. As regional aviation expansion continues, ground handling providers will come under pressure to expand their existing infrastructure and improve operational efficiency to cope with growing service demands and expectations of both airlines and passengers. GASA, an association of 11 non-airline ground handling agencies in the region, believes many ground handling companies will adopt cost-centric operational models in order to stay competitive and maintain commercial viability. “The ground handling industry will need to evolve to meet the needs of future airports,” Dr. Ghanem Al- Hajri, director general of Sharjah International Airport and secretary general of GASA. “A greater emphasis on efficiency and productivity will raise ground handling service standards to a new level to the benefit of the whole aviation industry.” GASA is giving strong backing to this year's Airport Show on June 2-4 at Airport Expo Dubai and will hold its 70th general meeting at the show, where members will discuss the latest in ground handling IT, safety issues, training, best practices, service level agreements and the challenges ahead for the region's ground handlers. GASA members will join 12 senior representatives from the ground handling industry at the second annual Ground Handling Middle East conference. The conference will provide a forum for professionals in the ground handling industry to discuss issues arising from the projected increase of cargo and passenger traffic at airports across the region, and find solutions. Some of the key issues to be addressed include a ground service industry outlook for the Middle East and Asia, how to maintain service quality in line with increasing pressures, airline expectations of ground handling providers and the impact of low-cost carriers entering the market. The conference will also provide an opportunity for directors, managers and ground handling personnel to learn about environmentally friendly ground support equipment, surveillance and communication innovations, safety and security measures for future airports and the role of luggage sealing in increasing efficiency. Three additional conferences will take place at this year's Airport Show - Future Airports , Air Traffic Control and Aviation Security Middle East. The brand new Future Airports conference will cover topical and pertinent issues within the aviation industry such as airspace management, financing future airports, environmental implications of airport expansion, as well as airport infrastructure and operations. The conference features high caliber speakers from airports and civil aviation authorities including Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Airports, Airports Council International, Society of British Aerospace Companies, Mumbai International Airport Limited, Air Arabia and Sama Airlines. __
