[ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) REGULATIONS 18th February, 2003; 25th March, 2003 LEGAL NOTICE 66 of 2003, as amended by Legal Notices 84 of 2004, 411 of 2007, Act V of 2007 and Legal Notice 46 of
- The title of these regulations (Groundhandling Services) Regulations.
- is the Airport In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires: "Administrative Review Tribunal" means the Administrative R e v i e w Tr i b u n a l e s t a b l i s h e d i n t e r m s o f a r t i c l e 5 o f t h e Administrative Justice Act, and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal; "airport" means any area of land especially adapted for the landing, taking off and manoeuvres of aircraft, including the ancillary installations which these operations may involve for the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a i r c r a f t t r a ff i c an d s e r v i c e s i n c l u d i n g t h e installations needed to assist commercial air services; "airport user" means any natural or legal person, responsible for the carriage of passengers, mail and, or freight by air, from or to the airport in question; "airside services" means the categories of ground handling services listed in items 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Schedule; "Committee" means the Airport Users’ Committee established under regulation 5; "Council Directive" means Council Directive 96/67/EC of 15 October 1996 on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports; "Director" means the Director of Civil Aviation and, to the extent of the authority given, any person authorised in that behalf by the Director; "general aviation operations" means those operations specified in item 12 of the Schedule; "groundhandling" means the services provided to airport users at the airport as described in the Schedule; "locally-based aircraft" means an aircraft listed on the Malta Aircraft Register that undertakes movements that originate and terminate in Malta and is permanently located in Malta between inbound and outbound movements; "managing body of the airport" means a body that has as its objective the administration and management of the airport infrastructure, and the co-ordination and control of the activities of the different operations present in the airport; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for civil aviation, and Citation. Interpretation. Amended by: L.N. 84 of 2004; V. 2007.25; L.N. 46 of
- Cap.
- 1 2 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) includes, to the extent of the authority given, any officer authorised by him, in writing, to act in that behalf for any of the purposes of these regulations; "MTOW" means the certified maximum take-off weight of an aircraft expressed in kilograms as declared on the certificate of airworthiness; "non-scheduled air service" means any flight not listed in the timetable of an airline including flights performed pursuant to a charter contract with one
(1)or more charterers with the intention of covering the entire capacity of the aircraft, not being a general aviation operation as defined in these regulations; "scheduled air service" means a series of flights possessing the following characteristics: (
- a)on each flight seats and, or capacity to transport cargo and, or mail are available for individual purchase by the public directly from the air carrier or from the authorised agents; (
- b)it is operated to serve traffic between the same two
(2)or more airports either: (
- i)(
- ii)according to a published timetable, or with flights so regular or frequent that they constitute a recognisable systematic series; "self-handling" means a situation in which an airport user directly provides to aircraft under its Air Operator’s Certificate one or more categories of groundhandling services and concludes no contract of any description with a third party for the provision of such services; for the purposes of this definition airport users shall not, among themselves, be deemed to be third parties where (
- a)one holds a majority shareholding in the other; or (
- b)a single body has a majority holding in each; "supplier of groundhandling services" means any natural or legal person supplying third parties with one or more categories of groundhandling services. Separation of accounts. 3.
(1)Where the managing body of an airport, the airport user or the supplier of groundhandling services provides groundhandling services, they must rigorously separate the accounts of their groundhandling activities from the accounts of their other activities in accordance with current commercial practice.
(2)A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of subregulation
(1)shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)The managing body of the airport shall not cause or permit its groundhandling activities to be subsidised from the revenue it derives from its role as airport authority. Independent examiner. 4.
(1)In any case where, pursuant to regulation 3, the managing body of the airport, an airport user, or a supplier of groundhandling services is required to separate its accounts, the AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 Director shall appoint in relation to that managing body, airport user or supplier a person to undertake the duties of independent examiner described in this regulation.
(2)The Director may by notice in writing on the independent examiner and on the person in relation to whom he has been appointed to examine, revoke an appointment made by him pursuant to subregulation
(1).
(3)The independent examiner shall check that the required separation of accounts is carried out.
(4)The independent examiner appointed in relation to the managing body of the airport shall also check whether there are or have been any financial flows between the activity of the managing body as airport authority and its groundhandling activity.
(5)Within a period of fifteen months after his date of appointment and at least once a year thereafter, the independent examiner shall prepare a written statement containing the results of the checks he has carried out pursuant to subregulation
(3)and, where he has been appointed in relation to the managing body of the airport, subregulation
(4).
(6)The independent examiner shall send a copy of the statement prepared by him pursuant to subregulation
(5)to the Director.
(7)The independent examiner shall be entitled to receive from the person in relation to whom he has been appointed a sum equal to any expense reasonably incurred by him in undertaking his duties of the independent examiner described in this regulation. 5.
(1)There shall be set up by the managing body of the airport a committee of representatives of airport users or organisations representing airport users, to be called the Airport Users’ Committee, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee". The representatives shall be appointed by the Director and the statute and rules of procedure of the Committee shall be approved by the Director. Airport Users’ Committee.
(2)All airport users shall have the right to be on this C o m m i t t e e o r, i f t h e y s o w i s h , b e r e p r e s e n t e d o n i t b y a n organisation appointed to that effect.
(3)The Committee shall meet at least once a year with the managing body of the airport and the persons providing groundhandling services at the airport to consult on the application of the provisions of these regulations. Such consultation shall cover, inter alia, the organisation of the provision of those groundhandling services supplied at the airport. 6.
(1)The managing body of the airport shall ensure free access to suppliers of groundhandling services established throughout the European Union to the market for the provision of groundhandling services to third parties in accordance with the Council Directive: Provided that two
(2)suppliers shall be authorised to Groundhandling for third parties. Substituted by: L.N. 84 of 2004; L.N. 46 of 2023. 3 4 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) provide each category of airside services, and without prejudice to such authorisation, not more than three
(3)other suppliers shall be authorised to solely provide the general aviation operations consisting in groundhandling services listed in item 12 of the Schedule, and provided further that at least one
(1)of the authorised suppliers of each category of airside services may not be directly or indirectly controlled by: (
- a)the managing body of the airport; (
- b)any airport user who has carried more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the passengers or freight recorded at the airport during the year preceding that in which those suppliers were selected; or (
- c)a body controlling or controlled directly or indirectly by the managing body or any such user: Provided further that the managing body of the airport, either directly or indirectly, may also provide each category of airside services and the general aviation operations, in addition to the other authorised suppliers: Provided further that a supplier of groundhandling services may outsource certain services to subcontracted suppliers that have been approved by the managing body of the airport to be considered as an authorised subcontracted supplier in accordance with sub-regulation 8A
(6).
(2)Notwithstanding the first proviso to sub-regulation
(1), with regards to services provided to general aviation operations, the number of suppliers authorised to provide the groundhandling services listed in item 12 of the Schedule to these regulations may, upon determination of the Minister in consultation with the managing body of the airport and the Committee, be increased to a maximum of six
(6)suppliers when the next applicable selection procedure in terms of regulation 8A shall be undertaken. Such additional suppliers shall be selected during the same selection procedure established for the purposes of selecting the other general aviation operations suppliers.
(3)The selection of the third-party handling service providers made by the managing body of the airport on the basis of sub-regulations
(1)and
(2)shall be valid for not more than: (a) seven
(7)years, in the case of suppliers authorised to provide airside services to airport users engaging in scheduled air services and non-scheduled air services; (b) five
(5)years, in the case of suppliers authorised to provide services listed in item 12 of the Schedule to airport users engaging in general aviation operations. AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 7.
(1)In relation to one
(1)or more groundhandling services listed in items 3, 4 and 5 of the Schedule, the Director in consultations with the managing body of the airport may reserve the right to self-handle aircraft to no more than two
(2)airport users, who are not directly or indirectly providers of groundhandling services listed in the Schedule to aircraft of a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) exceeding fifty thousand kilograms (50,000 kg) and a maximum seat capacity exceeding nineteen
(19)seats: Provided that an airport user so authorised to provide self-handling services shall: (
- a)be chosen on the basis of relevant, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria; (
- b)comply with any conditions and standards set by the managing body of the airport; (
- c)not be permitted to outsource any of the services listed in the Schedule; (
- d)such aircraft are registered under their own Air Operating Certificate: Provided that upon the application of the managing body of the airport to the Director, the Director may, at his discretion, authorise the number of providers of self-handling services as established under this sub-regulation
(1)to be increased to a maximum number of three
(3)suppliers.
(2)The selection of the self-handling airport users made by the managing body of the airport on the basis of sub-regulation
(1)shall be valid for not more than seven
(7)years.
(3)An airport user who: (
- a)operates a locally-based aircraft intended for general aviation operations; (
- b)is not either directly or indirectly a provider of groundhandling services to airport users engaging in scheduled air services and non-scheduled air services, shall have the right to self-handle in respect of general aviation operations consisting of groundhandling services mentioned in item 12 of the Schedule: Provided that an airport user who satisfies the criteria in sub-regulation 3(
- a)and 3(
- b)shall comply with any conditions and standards set by the managing body of the airport: Provided further that an airport user who satisfies the Self-handling. Substituted by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 5 6 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) criteria in sub-regulation 3(
- a)and 3(
- b)shall request from and be duly authorised by the managing body of the airport to perform selfhandling services, and shall not be permitted to outsource any of the general aviation operations consisting of the groundhandling services listed in item 12 of the Schedule.
(4)The selection of the self-handling airport users made by the managing body of the airport on the basis of sub-regulation
(3)shall be valid for not more than five
(5)years. Authorised suppliers. Substituted by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 8.
(1)The total number of authorised suppliers providing groundhandling services listed in items 3, 4, 5 and 12 of the Schedule, including those for scheduled air services, non-scheduled air services and general aviation operations and self-handling services shall not collectively amount to more than eight
(8).
(2)The limitation to the total number of authorised suppliers providing groundhandling services as provided for in sub-regulation
(1)shall be established in the following order: (
- a)suppliers for scheduled air services and nonscheduled air services; (
- b)suppliers for general aviation operations; (
- c)self-handlers: Provided that there shall be no limitation to the number of authorised suppliers providing self-handling services in accordance with sub-regulation 7
(3). Selection of suppliers. Added by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 8A.
(1)The managing body of the airport shall use a selection procedure to provide airside services and the ground handling services specified in item 12 of the Schedule: Provided that the managing body of the airport: (
- a)does not provide similar groundhandling services; (
- b)has no direct or indirect control over any undertaking which provides such services; and (
- c)has no involvement in any undertaking which provides such services.
(2)The managing body of the airport shall choose a supplier of groundhandling services after consulting the Committee and on the basis of the following principles: (
- a)any standard conditions or technical specifications which are to be met by suppliers of groundhandling services shall be established after consultation with the Committee; AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 (
- b)the selection criteria shall be relevant, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory; (
- c)an invitation to tender shall be published in the media to which any interested supplier of groundhandling services may reply.
(3)A supplier of groundhandling services shall provide uninterrupted services for the periods established under sub-regulation 6
(3)after being selected. If such a supplier of groundhandling services ceases his activity before the end of the period for which he has been selected, he shall be replaced on the basis of the same selection procedure provided for in sub-regulation
(2).
(4)In the event that the managing body of the airport decides to itself provide groundhandling services: (a) it may do so without being subject to the selection procedures provided for in sub-regulation 8
(2). This shall also apply to the supplier of groundhandling services which is controlled directly or indirectly by the managing body of the airport; (b) the Director shall carry out the selection procedure in sub-regulation
(2)after consulting the Committee and the managing body of the airport.
(5)The managing body of the airport shall inform the Committee and the Director of decisions taken under this regulation.
(6)Where an authorised supplier decides to outsource certain services that are not airside services or general aviation operations consisting of groundhandling services under item 12 of the Schedule to other specialized suppliers, the former shall apply with the managing body of the airport to authorise an outsourced supplier to be considered as an authorised subcontracted supplier subject to any conditions and standards set by the managing body of the airport for the provision of the particular groundhandling service which are equivalent to those set in sub-regulation
(2)(a). The provisions of regulations 10 to 20 shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the authorised outsourced supplier.
(7)The managing body of the airport or the Director, as the case may be in terms of this regulation, shall, following the entry into force of the Airport (Groundhandling Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023, implement the selection procedure for general aviation operations consisting of the ground handling services specified in item 12 of the Schedule not earlier than the seventh anniversary from the date on which the selection procedure issued prior to the entry into force of the said Airport (Groundhandling Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 was concluded. L.N. 46 of 2023 L.N. 46 of 2023 7 8 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) 9. The managing body of the airport shall ensure that: Access to installations. (
- a)the suppliers of groundhandling services and airport users wishing to self-handle have access to airport installations to the extent necessary for them to carry out their activities; (
- b)any conditions on such access that may be imposed by the managing body of the airport shall be relevant, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory; (
- c)space available for groundhandling at the airport is divided among the various suppliers of groundhandling services and self-handling airport users, to the extent necessary for the exercise of their rights and to allow effective and fair competition on the basis of relevant, objective, transparent and nondiscriminatory rules and criteria; (
- d)any fee charged for such access is determined according to relevant, objective, transparent and nondiscriminatory criteria. Approval of the Director. Amended by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 10.
(1)The Director may require that the groundhandling activity of any provider of groundhandling services obtains his approval. When granting such approval the Director shall take into account the financial fitness and sufficient insurance cover, the security and safety of installation, of aircraft, of equipment and of persons, as well as the protection and compliance with the relevant industrial legislation.
(2)In applying the criteria in subregulation
(1)the following principles shall be applied: (
- a)they must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner to the various suppliers of groundhandling services and airport users; (
- b)they must relate to the intended objective; (
- c)they may not, in practice, reduce market access freedom to self-handle to a level below that provided in these regulations.
(3)The criteria referred to in subregulation
(1)should be made public and the supplier of groundhandling services or self-handling airport user shall be informed in advance of the procedure for obtaining approval.
(4)The Director may withhold or withdraw an approval issued by him to the supplier of groundhandling services or self-handling airport user if they do not meet, for reasons of their own doing, the criteria set out in subregulation
(1). When withholding or withdrawing an approval, the Director shall communicate the grounds for such action to the supplier or user concerned and to the managing body of the airport. Furnishing of information, etc., to the Director. 11.
(1)The Director may by notice in writing served on any person require him to furnish to the Director, in such form and at such time as may be specified in the notice, information of such descriptions as may be so specified which relates to the accounts of AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 any person to whom the requirements of regulation 3 apply.
(2)Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a notice served upon him under subregulation
(1)shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)Any person who, in purported compliance with the requirements of any such notice, knowingly or recklessly furnishes information which is false in a material manner shall be guilty of an offence. 12.
(1)Subject to subregulation
(2), no information with respect to any particular business which has been obtained under or by virtue of regulation 11 shall, so long as the business continues to be carried on, be disclosed without the consent of the person for the time being carrying it on. Restriction on disclosure of information.
(2)Subregulation
(1)does not apply to any disclosure of information, which is made (
- a)in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purpose of any criminal proceedings; (
- b)for the purpose of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of these regulations. 13.
(1)Where, on an application made to him by the managing body of an airport, the Director is satisfied that a supplier of groundhandling services or an airport user has failed to comply with a rule imposed upon him to ensure the proper functioning of the airport, and that rule (
- a)is applied in a non-discriminatory manner to the various suppliers of groundhandling services and airport users; and (
- b)does not, in practice, reduce market access or the freedom to self-handle to a level below that provided for in these regulations, the Director may decide to prohibit, for such period as he thinks fit, the supplier or user from supplying groundhandling services or, as the case may be, self-handling.
(2)A decision made pursuant to subregulation
(1)may apply to one or more categories of groundhandling services.
(3)A supplier of groundhandling services or an airport user in relation to whom a decision has been made pursuant to subregulation
(1)shall not supply groundhandling services or, as the case may be, self-handle in contravention of that decision.
(4)In this regulation "rule" includes an obligation contained in a law or in a regulation.
(5)Pursuant to a decision made in accordance with sub-regulation
(1), the Director may decide to prohibit any supplier of outsourced services authorised to provide groundhandling services in accordance with regulation 8A
(6)from providing the groundhandling services in accordance with sub-regulation
(1). Prohibition of suppliers and airport users. Amended by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 9 10 [ S.L.499.25 Centralised infrastructures. AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) 14.
(1)On an application from the managing body of an airport, the Director may decide to reserve for the managing body of the airport or for another person the management of the centralised infrastructures used for the supply of groundhandling services whose complexity, cost or environmental impact does not allow for division or duplication, such as baggage sorting, de-icing, water purification and fuel distribution and storage systems.
(2)Where the management of a centralised infrastructure has been reserved by the Director pursuant to subregulation
(1), a supplier of groundhandling services or a self-handling airport user at that airport shall not use any apparatus, equipment, system or other thing for the supply of the groundhandling services concerned as an alternative to that centralised infrastructure.
(3)The person for whom the management of a centralised infrastructure has been reserved pursuant to subregulation
(1)shall ensure that the management of that infrastructure is transparent, objective and non-discriminatory and, in particular, that it does not hinder the access of suppliers of groundhandling services or selfhandling airport users within the limits provided for in these regulations.
(4)On his own proposal or on an application made to him by (
- a)the managing body of the airport concerned, (
- b)the person for whom the management of the centralised infrastructures in question has been reserved, where that person is not the managing body of the airport concerned, (
- c)a supplier of groundhandling services, or (
- d)an airport user, the Director may vary from time to time or revoke a decision made pursuant to subregulation
(1). Reciprocity. Amended by: L.N. 46 of 2023. 15.
(1)Where it appears to the Minister that another country, with respect to access to the groundhandling or self-handling market (
- a)does not, de jure or de facto, grant suppliers of groundhandling services and self-handling airport users from Malta treatment comparable to that granted by Malta to suppliers of groundhandling services and self-handling airport users from that country; or (
- b)grants suppliers of groundhandling services and selfhandling airport users from that country or from other countries more favourable treatment than suppliers of groundhandling services and self-handling airport users from Malta, the Minister may wholly or partially suspend the obligations arising from these regulations in respect of suppliers of groundhandling services and airport users from that country.
(2)The Director shall notify the European Commission of any withdrawal or suspensions of rights or obligations provided for under AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 11 these regulations. 16.
(1)An appeal shall lie to the Administrative Review Tri bunal against any decision or authorisation given un der regulations 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13. Appeals. Substituted by: V. 2007.25.
(2)The right to appeal shall be competent to any person aggrieved by the decision or authorisation. 17.
(1)An appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal may be filed on any of the following grounds: Grounds of appeal. Substituted by: V. 2007.25. (
- a)that a material error as to the facts has been made; (
- b)that there was a material procedural error; (
- c)that an error of law has been made; (
- d)that there was some material illegality, including unreasonableness or lack of proportionality.
(2)The Administrative Review Tribunal shall give reasons for its decision and shall cause such decisions to be made public omitting, if it deems it appropriate for reasons of commercial or security confidentiality, the names of the persons involved and any other information.
(3)In determining an appeal under this regulation the Administrative Review Tribunal may (
- a)dismiss the appeal; or; (
- b)annul the decision or authorisation, and where the said Tribunal annuls the decision or authorisation it may refer the matter to the managing body of the airport or the Director, as the case may be, with a direction to reconsider it and reach a decision or authorisation consistent with the findings of the Tribunal.
(4)The effect of a decision or authorisation to which an appeal relates shall not, except where the Tribunal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, so orders, be suspended in consequence of the bringing of the appeal. 18.
(1)The Administrative Review Tribunal shall be competent to hear and decide any appeal made to it in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and, subject to regulation 19, the decisions of the Tribunal shall be final and binding.
(2)For the exercise of its functions, the Tribunal may summon any person to appear before it and give evidence and produce documents; and the Chairperson shall have the power to administer the oath. Powers and procedure of the Administrative Review Tribunal. Substituted by: V. 2007.25. 19.
(1)Any party to an appeal to the Tribunal who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Board may, on a question of law, appeal to the Court of Appeal in terms of the Administrative Justice Act. Appeal to the Tribunal. Amended by: V. 2007.25. Cap. 490.
(2)The fees contained in Schedule A to the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure shall apply to the filing of judicial acts in connection with appeals under this regulation. Cap. 12. 12 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) Cap. 12.
(3)The Board established under article 29 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure may make Rules of Court governing appeals to the Court of Appeal under this regulation. Penalties. Amended by: L.N. 411 of 2007. 20.
(1)A person who commits an offence under regulation 3
(2)and regulation 11
(2)shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa) not exceeding two thousand and three hundred and twentynine euros and thirty-seven cents (2,329.37).
(2)A person who commits an offence under regulation 11
(3)and regulation 13
(3)shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa) not exceeding two thousand and three hundred and twenty-nine euros and thirty-seven cents (2,329.37) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment. SCHEDULE (R EGULATION 2) Amended by LIST OF GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES
- Ground administration and supervision comprise: 1.1 representation and liaison services with local authorities or any other entity, disbursements on behalf of the airport user and provision of office space for its representatives; 1.2 load control, messaging and telecommunications; 1.3 handling, storage and administration of unit load devices; 1.4 any other supervision services before, during or after the flight and any other administrative service requested by the airport user.
- Passenger handling comprises any kind of assistance to arriving, departing, transfer or transit passengers, including checking tickets and travel documents, registering baggage and carrying it to the sorting area.
- Baggage handling comprises handling baggage in the sorting area, sorting it, preparing it for departure, loading it on to and unloading it from the devices designed to move it from the aircraft to the sorting area and vice versa, as well as transporting baggage from the sorting area to the reclaim area.
- Freight and mail handling comprises: 4.1 for freight: physical handling of export, transfer and import freight, handling of related documents, customs procedures and implementation of any security procedure agreed between the parties or required by the circumstances; 4.2 for mail: physical handling of incoming and outgoing mail, handling of related documents and implementation of any AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) [ S.L.499.25 security procedure agreed between the parties or required by the circumstances.
- Ramp handling comprises: 5.1 marshalling the aircraft on the ground at arrival and departure, unless provided by the air traffic service; 5.2 assistance to aircraft parking and provision of suitable devices, unless provided by the air traffic service; 5.3 communication between the aircraft and the air-side supplier of services, unless provided by the air traffic service; 5.4 the loading and unloading of the aircraft, including the provision and operation of suitable means, as well as the transport of crew and passengers between the aircraft and terminal, and baggage transport between the aircraft and the terminal; 5.5 the provision and operation of appropriate units for engine starting; 5.6 the moving of the aircraft at arrival and departure, as well as the provision and operation of suitable devices; 5.7 the transport, loading on to and unloading from the aircraft of food and beverages.
- Aircraft services comprise: 6.1 the external and internal cleaning of the aircraft, and the toilet and water services; 6.2 the cooling and heating of the cabin, the removal of snow and ice, the de-icing of the aircraft; 6.3 the re-arrangement of the cabin with suitable cabin equipment, the storage of this equipment.
- Fuel and oil handling comprises: 7.1 the organisation and execution of fuelling and defuelling operations, including the storage of fuel and the control of the quality and quantity of fuel deliveries; 7.2 the replenishing of oil and other fluids.
- Aircraft maintenance comprises: 8.1 routine services performed before flight; 8.2 non-routine services requested by the airport user; 8.3 the provision and administration of spare parts and suitable equipment; 8.4 the request for or reservation of a suitable parking and/or hangar space.
- Flight operations and crew administration comprise: 9.1 preparation of the flight at the departure airport or at any other point; 9.2 in-flight assistance, including re-dispatching if needed; 13 14 [ S.L.499.25 AIRPORT (GROUNDHANDLING SERVICES) 9.3 post-flight activities; 9.4 crew administration.
- Surface transport comprises: 10.1 the organisation and execution of crew, passenger, baggage, freight and mail transport between different terminals of the same airport, but excluding the same transport between the aircraft and any other point within the perimeter of the same airport; 10.2 any special transport requested by the airport user.
- Catering services comprise: 11.1 liaison with suppliers and administrative management; 11.2 storage of food and beverages and of the equipment needed for their preparation; 11.3 cleaning of this equipment; 11.4 preparation and delivery of equipment as well as of bar and food supplies.
- General aviation operations: The provision of groundhandling operations listed in items 3, 4 and 5 of this Schedule which shall be limited to civil aviation operations, executed for remuneration or hire, private use, or for State, military or humanitarian missions, utilising an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) not exceeding fifty thousand kilograms (50,000 kg) and having a maximum seat capacity of nineteen
(19)seats.