TGS starts work in the New Year

Turkish Ground Handling Service (TGS), founded as a 50/50 partnership between Turkish Airlines and Havaş, began operation as of the night of 31 December 2009.

Turkish Ground Handling Service (TGS), founded as a 50/50 partnership between Havaalanları Yer Hizmetleri A.Ş. (Havaş) (Airports Ground Services A.Ş.) and Turkish Airlines (THY), will provide “Full Handling” services in Adana and Antalya in the first phase. TGS, which will primarily provide “Ramp” service in Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul stations--for proper execution of the services and a healthy transition period--will later offer passenger and traffic services to THY and Anadolu Jet aircraft.

CEO of TAV Airports Holding and Vice President of TGS, M. Sani Şener, said, “There are three big players in the market; Havaş, Çelebi, TGS. Havaş has become a partner of TGS. We have made a deal for the sales of 35 percent of Havaş. We believe that we determine our strategies very well in this respect. As TAV, we have a trend besides the conventional trend in Turkey. We like to grow by sharing. For example, Havaş knew about the ground services very well; we became partners with Havaş.

We also became partners with Bilintur in catering and the Unifree Group, whose mother company is Heinemann, in duty-free. This has enabled us to grow more the more we shared. Turkish Airlines has achieved considerable growth lately. Similarly, they also find the experts in a field and become partners with them. In a tender attended by Havaş, Çelebi and Fraport, Havaş won the contract. TGS, founded as a 50/50 partnership between Havaş and Turkish Airlines, started providing ground services for Turkish Airlines in five cities as of 1 January, 2010. At present, TGS will provide services to about 160 thousand flights of Turkish Airlines per year. As the system stabilizes, TGS will provide the services of Turkish Airlines in all cities.”

Şener, indicating that TGS serves only Turkish Airlines at present, said “When third parties have a demand, of course they will also be served. Our cooperation in the TGS project positively affects the synergy between TAV and Turkish Airlines.”

Havaş Managing Director and TGS Board Member, Müjdat Yücel, said “TGS aims to become one of the leading ground handling companies in the world. For this purpose, our colleagues, who have completed their trainings, will be assigned to aircraft and cargo jobs at the airports in five cities. Initially, ramp (aircraft and cargo) services will be offered at Istanbul Ataturk, Ankara Esenboga, Izmir Adnan Menderes, Antalya and Adana airports. Later on, passenger and operation services will be provided at Izmir Adnan Menderes, Ankara Esenboga and Istanbul Ataturk Airports in the same order.”

Yücel states that in the near future TGS will also offer services at other airports and to other airlines besides THY and Anadolu Jet. He said, “TGS will bring a new competition concept to the sector through its superior service based on customer satisfaction as well as the expertise and knowledge of Havaş and THY.” Yücel, emphasizing that Havaş is progressing with safe steps towards its target of “Becoming one of the leading corporations in the world by providing the best ground services,”--and not only in its own country. He said, “TGS, which we have established with THY on a 50 percent partnership basis, constitutes an important step for Havaş to reach its business and future targets. It represents a new vision, through a partnership of service provider and service receiver, which can be an example for many sectors.” Prof. Dr. Cemal Şanlı (THY), Kazım Çalışkan (THY), Müjdat Yücel (HAVAŞ) and Serkan Kaptan (TAV) are Members of the Board of TGS, President of which is Hamdi Topçu and Vice President of which is TAV Group CEO Dr. M. Sani Şener. Ex-Ground Operations Chief of THY, Hüseyin Keskin, was appointed as the Managing Director of the company. In the structuring of TGS, the assignments of the directors and staff members transferred to TGS from THY and Havaş have been completed. Accordingly, Kartal Özçakır was appointed as Operations Deputy Managing Director and Uğur Aksoy was appointed Administrative and Financial Affairs Deputy Managing Director.