Ground Handling Company "Facing Management Crisis... Airport Corporation, Please Waive Various Usage Fees"

"Severe Liquidity Crisis Due to COVID-19... Exemption of Various Facility Usage Fees Including Apron Fees"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Amid the aviation industry being pushed to the brink of collapse due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), ground handling companies have requested various fee exemptions and support from the two major airport corporations.

The Ground Handling Emergency Response Committee announced on the 4th that it submitted a joint petition containing these requests to Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airports Corporation on the 3rd. The committee is composed of Korea Airports, Asiana Airport, Sharp Aviation K, Swissport Korea, JAS, and others.

Previously, through the first and second petitions, they requested exemptions from on-site business fees and apron usage fees paid to the airport corporations, as well as various airport facility usage fees, office rental fees, and land usage fees.

The committee appealed, saying, "As the COVID-19 situation has continued for over a month, the situation has worsened to the point where we are now concerned about survival beyond an emergency situation," adding, "What is more frightening is that it is difficult to predict the end."

They continued, "We requested support from the corporations, but received a reply that acceptance is difficult as the corporations themselves are experiencing deteriorating financial conditions due to the decrease in air travel demand," and pointed out, "The government said that 103 institutions, including the airport corporations, will participate in rent reductions, but in reality, this is not a practical help to overcome the current crisis that worsens daily."

The committee also urged, "We request exemptions from on-site business fees, apron usage fees, various facility usage fees, office rental fees, and land usage fees," and called for, "Deferral of all monthly payments until a decision on exemption is made."

Furthermore, the committee stated, "Ground handling companies, which are expected to suffer hundreds of billions in operating losses this year alone, are also struggling to secure liquidity for immediate employee wage payments," and earnestly requested, "Please understand the desperate situation of ground handling companies and sincerely ask for practical and immediate support from the corporations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.