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"An airport, depending on its size, operates similarly to a
town or city."
To ensure passengers are able to traverse the airport there are quite often rail systems; many escalators and lifts, and of course, moving walk-ways. When searching for flight information, luggage carousels or a specific service such as passenger lounges, the passenger is bombarded with signs, blue ones, green ones; all the colours of the rainbow are suspended from ceilings, abutted to walls and affixed to departure gates, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands providing relevant, sometimes not so relevant information.
For those who know and have worked airports, two facts are prominent; they are a nightmare to manage operationally and probably one of the most challenging environments a Facility Services Manager will encounter; sleepless nights become the norm.
Subsequently, Tafawuq Transportation decided to scrutinise the demands a Facility Management business would need to contend with if it is going to be successful in delivering a proficient professional Facilities Management service to an airport; a service that does not fail.
What constitutes an airport?
Quite simply there are two constituents; landside and airside. Tafawuq Transportation decided to scrutinise both “sides”. Firstly, Tafawuq asked questions internally; personnel from all walks of life, and from many differing cultures, holding an array of work jobs associated with delivering first class asset management, aka facilities management were invited to participate, the responses were illuminating, often innovative and always interesting. Subsequently in the coming weeks Tafawuq Transportation will disclose its findings.
What is Landside?
Landside is where passengers are deposited by friends, taxis, trains and coaches to join the hurly-burly activity of an airport as they rush, some dawdle and others stampede their way to the check-in desk and onward to their flight. There are car parking areas, luggage trolley bays, porters, maintenance people and signs; we must never forget the signs. Airlines, hotels and rental car companies advertise their wares before reaching the check-in and receiving the all-important boarding pass necessary to pass through immigration and customs before finally arriving airside.
What is Airside?
Airside is probably best described as the business end of the airport. The excited, perhaps disgruntled traveller, upon crossing between landside and airside is suddenly hit by clamour emitting from duty-free shops, restaurants, food courts, passenger lounges and colour, colour abounds. And yes signs, they are everywhere. Regular travellers know the pitfalls; therefore they successfully negotiate towards a quiet corner to await their flight announcement.
Finally, when peering from a window, one is rewarded by the sight of majestic metal birds proudly displaying their colours, waiting to board two-hundred plus passengers, standing patiently while they are being fuelled with not only Jet-fuel but with food, beverages, luggage and cargo, an extraordinary sight.
[email protected], www.tafawuq.ae
For the majority of the day thousands of people are in evidence. Many are working; cleaners, engineers, airline ground staff, cabin crews rushing towards their flight, caterers, luggage handlers and countless others, but mostly they are passengers. Passengers who are utilising the many eateries, shopping in duty free shops; resting in designated areas, perhaps reading, sleeping or conversing.
AVIATION AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT THE AIRPORT
