Trego/Dugan Aviation has been awarded eight new airline ground handling contracts so far in 2018. These include above and below the wing contracts for Allegiant at Fort Lauderdale, Charleston International and Nashville; Spirit at Port Columbus International; Frontier at Spokane; Alaska at Pittsburgh International and WOW Air at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

Company President Vince Dugan commented: “Trego Dugan is very pleased with the growth we are enjoying with existing airline partners as well as the addition of new customers. 2018 is shaping up as a banner year for TDA.” The company currently provides ground handling in 26 cities around the US.

SITA has been chosen by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority as the technology partner for biometric exit at Orlando International airport. Orlando International becomes the first US airport to fully deploy the US Customs & Border Protection Biometric Entry and Exit Programme. Over the coming months, SITA will integrate Smart Path, its sophisticated biometric technology, at the airport’s 30 international boarding gates.

Earlier this year, SITA worked with GOAA, British Airways and CBP to incorporate the US biometric departure check for British Airways’ customers. The trial’s success has prompted airport-wide implementation of the technology. The system makes passenger boarding both quicker and easier, while it also incorporates the new secure biometric exit checks. Currently, British Airways is boarding flights of almost 240 customers in around 15 minutes. With Smart Path, passengers look at a camera, without having to present boarding passes or passports.

John Newsome, Chief Information Officer, GOAA, commented: “Our decision to implement biometric exit checks across the whole airport follows a hugely successful live trial. The innovative boarding process we tested is really popular with passengers. They simply look at the camera and within seconds the gate opens and they can board the flight. It is easy, fast and most importantly, secure. The solution works on common-use boarding gates and can be easily used by the many international airlines that we serve at Orlando.”

Worldwide Flight Services has won a three-year contract to provide ramp handling for Lufthansa Group’s flights at Newark Liberty International airport. Under the terms of the agreement, the start of each airline’s summer schedules will see the WFS team in Newark responsible for handling Lufthansa’s three flights a day serving Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich, as well as Austrian Airlines’ and SWISS International Airlines’ daily services.

Tronair, a portfolio company of Golden Gate Capital, has been recognised for its efforts by Gulfstream Aerospace, with the prestigious

“Gulfstream Supplier of the Year award for 2017”. Gulfstream issues the awards bi-annually to recognise suppliers who have achieved superior performance. Award selection is based on the Gulfstream Supplier Report Card measurement criteria, which tracks overall value, delivery, quality, customer service and compliance for select Gulfstream suppliers. 

The award was presented by Bill Williams, Vice President of Supply Chain and Dennis Stuligross, Senior Vice President of Operations. To receive the award at the 2018 Gulfstream Operators & Suppliers Conference on behalf of Tronair was Tony Sanchez, Regional Sales Director, Jessica Hennessey, Customer Experience Leader and Chad Gibson, Product Specialist.

Delta Air Lines Cargo has appointed Lindsey Jalil as Managing Director – Commercial, a role previously held by Kristin Colvile, who was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, SkyTeam.

With effect from June 1, Jalil has been leading Delta Cargo’s commercial activities, which include alliances, distribution, marketing and communications, products, technology, reporting and revenue management. Jalil has been with Delta since 2005 and has fulfilled various roles within the carrier’s organisation since that date.