Since January 1, 2011, AeroGround, a subsidiary of FMG, the Munich Airport operating company, has been performing ground handling services for most aircraft flying in and out of Munich. AeroGround's largest customer is Lufthansa, with which the new subsidiary has signed a six-year agreement for handling services at Munich Airport. In 2011 alone, AeroGround will complete more than 164,000 handling operations for Lufthansa. The company is responsible for the ground and baggage handling services as well as passenger transportation and various extra services such as crew transportation for all Lufthansa aircraft with the exception of the regional aircraft Embraer E190/195 and Canadair Regionaljet.

The handling contract was signed at an official ceremony, with FMG represented by CEO Dr Michael Kerkloh and his fellow executive board member Thomas Weyer. In attendance for Lufthansa was Thomas Klühr, who heads the airline's Munich and Passenger Services Division and is also in charge of Hub Management in Munich. Signing the contract for Lufthansa was Markus Berberich, the head of Ground Operations. Siegfried Pasler, the managing director, signed for AeroGround.

This long-term handling agreement with Lufthansa and the successful start of operations for AeroGround represents a key milestone for FMG on the way to restructuring its ground services activities. One decisive step making this possible was the successful negotiation in advance of a collective agreement between FMG and the ver.di union, which gave AeroGround the competitive structures it needs to operate successfully in the market.

At present, AeroGround employs a workforce numbering approximately 2,000 in its ground services activities to deliver ground handling services for some 800 flights a day. Alongside Lufthansa, the company's portfolio of customers includes more than 100 other airlines, including such renowned carriers as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, United Airlines, Condor and TUIfly. AeroGround took over the ground handling activities right from the beginning of the New Year – smoothly and on schedule.

Praising the successful take-off of the newly formed subsidiary, Michael Kerkloh called it "an optimisitc signal pointing the way forward." "With this new structure we have found a way of keeping the ground handling activities within the FMG Group and securing the jobs in ground services for the future. And, now that we as an airport operating company are in a position to continue offering the airlines competent and reliable service on the ramp in the future, we are also supporting the long-term growth and development of the Munich hub," said Kerkloh.