Air France and KLM are merging their ground handling subsidiaries' activities at London Heathrow and London City airports, forming a new company called Cobalt Ground Solutions.
KLM Ground Handling Services and Air France Services say the change marks the first merger of two Air France-KLM subsidiaries.
Air France-KLM general manager for the UK and Ireland Christine Ourmieres says: "It made strategic, as well as financial, sense to pool our resources and talent into one company and create operating synergies for both ground handling companies."
Cobalt Ground Solutions will be 60%-owned by KLM. Air France will hold the remaining 40% stake. The new company will have an operating turnover in excess of £36 million ($51 million) and a portfolio of 26 airline customers.
The two companies will merge their local operations on 1 April, bringing together 782 staff and creating what they claim will be the largest ground handling operator at Heathrow Terminal 4 and City Airport. Cobalt will offer a full range of services, including passenger check-in, ticketing, ramp handling, de-icing and aircraft towing.
Cobalt Ground Solutions, which draws its name from the fusion of Air France's and KLM's historic colours, will be headed by managing director Corneel Koster. Koster says: "While we are grateful and proud of our roots and the strong backing of the Air France-KLM Group, we feel it is important that Cobalt will be a neutral company able to deal with all airlines on its own terms and without any brand conflicts."
Over the next two months, Cobalt Ground Solutions branding will be rolled out across staff uniforms, ground services equipment, corporate and marketing materials.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
