GROUND SERVICE PROVIDERS When is it Best to Outsource? For an airline, knowing when to outsource ground service operations and when to take care of them in-house is an equation with shifting variables from location to location. W hen an airline decides whether to outsource ground handling services or take care of them in-house, it's a juggling act of variables. From local staffing considerations to overreaching global concerns - such as the COVID-19 pandemic - there is no singular nor static factor influencing an airline's decision. As the aviation landscape shifts, so do the pros and cons of outsourcing. Silvio Tano, CEO of Total Airport Services (TAS), says the decision often comes down to four factors. These factors include cost savings; providing the airline more management-focused time on maximizing aircraft payloads; shifting labor management and contracting responsibilities to a third party; and shifting exposure and general liabilities cost to third party handlers. Photo courtesy of Airport Terminal Services By Walker Jaroch 24 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE FEBRUARY 2021