Ground Handling Companies or Agents (GHAs) are said to be overwhelmed with needless high staff numbers who are just managing inefficiencies across Nigerian Airports.
Concerns have been raised on the need to engage permanent staff to handle each airline’s own system because the tech solutions are either inappropriate, not properly framed and many have now resulted to only perfecting Flight Manifest Message and jettisoning the other needed information such as Notification for Delivery, Received from Flight, Document Identifier without working hard to get these needed information services to the airlines.
Also, old technologies have not been harnessed as at present, although there are attempts to upgrade, upscale, and new technologies with improved solutions (such as user friendliness and more control).
These concerns were raised by Seyi Adewale, chief executive officer, Mainstream Cargo Limited, at the 5th CHINET Aviacargo Conference at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos.
During his presentation, he disclosed that different airlines have different tech solutions used by GHAs that negatively impact on costs, manpower utilisation, and overall efficiency in the air-cargo process.
According to Adewale, there is inadequate tech communication between primary segments in the air-cargo business (airline to customs, GHA to airlines, GHA to consignee) and resultant higher charges to consignee (demurrage, pass on running costs, etc).
He further noted that there are higher running costs on airlines that need to have a retinue of ground staff to operate and manage some aspects of the ground handling process, or the inefficiencies.
‘GHAs need to employ a higher number of staff to manage different processes evoked by the airlines because of technological lapses or inadequate or improper communication.
‘Customs’ slower process of clearing or managing their tech platforms (what is the effective resumption time of a Customs officer in the CPC Unit). I dare say from 10 a.m.!’ he said.
He mentioned that there are downtimes due to poor tech infrastructure support (electricity, backups, etc) and last-mile user frustration.