Ground handling business takes off at Birmingham Airport following merger

A new ground handling company has started operations at Birmingham Airport as it looks to capitalise on the increasing passenger volumes at the hub.

Azzurra Premiere Handling has been formed by the merger of Premiere Handling of Manchester and Azzurra Handling at London Heathrow.

The new business, the second ground handling company to set up at the airport is already providing services such as check-in, boarding, push back, baggage handling and aircraft cleaning to airlines bmi regional and Brussels Airlines.

The move has seen the creation of 40 jobs and a six-figure investment in new facilities.

With the airport now handling around 12 million passengers a year it is hoping to sign up other airlines as clients.
Julian van Gelder, who founded the business, expects to see further recruitment as expansion continues.

“Birmingham Airport is geographically well positioned in the UK to continue its expansion,” said Mr van Gelder, who started his career with Serviseair in Manchester.

In a near 40-year career in civil aviation he has also owned his own small airline and started Premiere Handling in Manchester in 2008.

“We are delighted about forming this partnership with Azzurra and will focus on a handling operation that will create a great passenger experience for our airline customers,” he added.

“Our objective is to provide a great service to airlines that use Birmingham and we have been able to recruit some excellent and highly experienced staff.”

Vittorio Mazza, of Azzurra, said the merger offer plenty of potential for his own business.

“This is our first step outside of the London market and we see a great opportunity to build a presence at one of the fastest growing airports in the UK, forecasted to handle over 13 million passengers in 2017,” he said.

“It is also excellent that we have been able to safeguard and create jobs and so make a contribution to the economy of Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

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