United Services Continues Providing Ground Handling Services for Air Canada
United Services Ground Handling, part of United's airport operations division, has announced that it has signed a two-year contract to continue providing Ground Handling services for Air Canada. Under the agreement, United Services will provide ramp and customer service for the airline at 37 airports around the world, serving all three carriers under the Air Canada umbrella—Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, and Air Georgian.
Air Canada is United Services' oldest and largest Ground Handling customer, with an ongoing relationship that dates back to 1988. United Services provides customized Ground Handling packages for Air Canada consisting of various combinations of available services, including customer and ramp service, operational support, aircraft cleaning, cargo services, and management supervision.
"The relationship between United Services and Air Canada represents the largest single agreement between an airlines vendor and customer," says Michael Gentile, director–Ground Handling, United Services. "More importantly, Air Canada is much more than a Ground Handling customer, they are also a strong and valued Star Alliance member."
"In an ever more competitive airline environment, it is vital that we can rely on a ground handler to look after our passengers and turn our airplanes as if they were their own. Our long term relationship with United Services has made for a special relationship that gives us that comfort zone," says David Tait, Air Canada's Senior VP Customer Service.
Under a separate agreement, United Services has begun the first of a multi-phase testing program that will eventually make United's EasyCheck-In available to Air Canada customers throughout the United system. EasyCheck-In kiosks allow customers to access or change their flight information without consulting a customer service representative. Testing is now taking place and will include customers on United/Air Canada interline flights only. When the second phase begins in the third quarter 2006, the service will be extended to Air Canada customers without a United connection and will include luggage checking capability. The third phase is scheduled for 2007 and will include the ability to make seat changes and request upgrades on Air Canada flights. This is the first time EasyCheck-In has been offered to customers other than United.
United Services’ Ground Handling currently serves more than 60 customers at 90+ airport locations around the world, including London, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City.
