Quick Cargo managing director Stephan Haltmayer on the "FCS at Frankfurt Airport" case:
“The dispute that has broken out here contains complex aspects. In essence, however, it is about who is responsible for the discharge? The legal basis for us - from the point of view of the freight forwarders - is simple: We have a contract with the respective airline, which in turn has its contractual relationship with the respective ground handling partner. The legal situation (the forwarding and logistics association Hessen und Rheinlandpfalz SLV has already pointed this out) speaks clear words: The delivering company does not owe the unloading in actual terms. This obligation applies to the air carrier or the air cargo handler commissioned by him, who acts as his vicarious agent. (Judgment of October 27.10.1978, 114, file number: I ZR 76/XNUMX). In the past there was no contractual relationship between the ground handling partner and the carrier. In this respect, from our point of view, an agreement on the unloading fees must first be made. Here we stand behind the SLV and their concerns to find a sustainable solution for all parties. The current situation and the resulting uncertainty are weakening the Frankfurt location. And surely nobody can be interested in that! Especially since the handling situation at Frankfurt Airport has been quite difficult in recent years due to the lack of IT infrastructure. We as a company have prepared ourselves, should bottlenecks arise again, we will switch to other European air freight centers.
The current fees in the room affect the middle class to a large extent, since the fees only affect the unloaded loose cargo. We must vehemently defend ourselves against such discrimination - especially in the interests of our customers. We as a company followed the recommendation of the DSLV and objected to the unloading fees. All possible payments in this context are only made subject to reclaim so as not to endanger ongoing operations. "
.