This thesis investigates whether a private entity can compete with fixed base operators (FBOs) for airline ground handling contracts. Separating the research method into five phases, the author first conducts a need analysis. Then, the author dissects the structure of existing ground handling contracts. Thirdly, the average service charges presently in place are tabulated. Fourthly, a financial analysis is performed including the calculation of the break-even point at a profit. Finally, a model of ground handling operation is simulated using an existing air carrier’s ground handling contract.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis investigates whether a private entity can compete with fixed base operators (FBOs) for airline ground handling contracts. Separating the research method into five phases, the author first conducts a need analysis. Then, the author dissects the structure of existing ground handling contracts. Thirdly, the average service charges presently in place are tabulated. Fourthly, a financial analysis is performed including the calculation of the break-even point at a profit. Finally, a model of ground handling operation is simulated using an existing air carrier’s ground handling contract.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Vergas, Carlos A."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Business Administration in Aviation","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Graduate Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Tom Tacker","Bruce Chadbourne","Rudolf Knabe"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1993,"date_issued":"1993-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1993-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:25:16Z","subjects":["fixed base operators","ground handling contracts","Aviation","Business Administration, Management, and Operations"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/221","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Tom Tacker","Bruce Chadbourne","Rudolf Knabe"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Vergas, Carlos A."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Graduate Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Business Administration in Aviation"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["fixed base operators","ground handling contracts","Aviation","Business Administration, Management, and Operations"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/221"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis investigates whether a private entity can compete with fixed base operators (FBOs) for airline ground handling contracts. Separating the research method into five phases, the author first conducts a need analysis. Then, the author dissects the structure of existing ground handling contracts. Thirdly, the average service charges presently in place are tabulated. Fourthly, a financial analysis is performed including the calculation of the break-even point at a profit. Finally, a model of ground handling operation is simulated using an existing air carrier’s ground handling contract.
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