Binghamton Airport lands new ground handling service

BINGHAMTON — The Greater Binghamton Airport has a new ground handling service.

Eagle Ground Handling, American Eagle’s ground handling business, won a contract to handle United Express ground handling operations at Binghamton and eight other U.S. airports.

In an email, the company said they are still determining exactly how many employees they will need to handle what they believe will be four flights a day. Ground handling includes baggage handling, cargo loading and unloading, and can also include cabin cleaning and fueling and ticket counter and gate staffing.

The company expects it will provide all those services in Binghamton as it replaces the previous contractor, United Express, and may hire a number of United Express employees.

As a result of the new contract, Eagle Ground will also provide ground handling services for United Express at Dallas Love Field, Del Rio, and Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas. The company currently provides ground handling services for other airlines in Waco, College Station, Killeen/Fort Hood, and Tyler, Texas as well as Monroe, La.

The transition from United Express ground handling to Eagle Ground Handling will take place in the coming months.

American Eagle operates more than 1,500 daily flights to more than 170 destinations on behalf of American Airlines.

American Airlines, Inc., and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation (www.aa.com), which filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on Nov. 29.

Contact DeLore at tgregory@tgbbj.com