Ground handling liberalization

Council Directive 96/67/EC introduces some liberalization into the ground handling market at European Community airports. The Commission's proposal excited significant differences of views among airlines, airports and providers of ground handling services, most of whom are state-owned and/or related to the national carrier. The Directive attempts to reach a compromise between these various interests, but in a number of respects those of the monopoly providers of handling services appear to have prevailed. The Directive creates some scope for airlines to selfhandle and for third parties to provide handling services, but with significant scope for exceptions and, in some cases, long transitional periods. However, the EC competition rules continue to be applicable to abusive behaviour by dominant companies, and may be enforced in this sector by the EC, or invoked by private parties in national courts.