The state-owned enterprise “Polish Airports” (PPL) carries out the following scope of activities: construction, modernization, and operation of communication airports and aeronautical ground facilities; construction, expansion, and maintenance of airport terminals and other airport infrastructure facilities; provision of navigation services for domestic and foreign carriers and other persons operating aircraft; provision of services for airline passengers; provision of services related to cargo transport by air carriers; and provision of technical maintenance services for aircraft. The scope of PPL’s activities is shown in Map 1.
PPL’s efforts in terms of passenger and cargo handling are as follows:
1. Total number of passengers –
3,387.9 thousand, including:
714.6 thousand
2,156.1 thousand
372.5 thousand
2. Cargo transport –
20.4 thousand tonnes.
The above summary shows that the scale of passenger and cargo transport is quite significant, and the number of air trips will systematically increase. The organization of the LOT enterprise is shown in Diagram 1.
Analyzing the way the Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT enterprise is organized, it should be noted that there are no separate segments or organizational departments whose primary task would be logistical support for ongoing processes.
Therefore, it can be assumed that there is a need to introduce necessary order in the area of logistics, which should concern both the theoretical and practical spheres.
Theoretical aspects of logistics in an airline enterprise
With regard to the specific activities of a specialized enterprise in the field of air transport (passengers, goods), the direction for solving problems in the area of securing basic transport processes is determined by the definition of logistics, which means “planning, implementation, and control of the movement and placement of people and/or goods and supporting activities related to this movement and placement, in a system created to achieve specific goals.”
Evaluating the enterprise in question from the perspective of tasks, scope and range of activities, as well as organization, it is necessary to emphasize the need to systematize key issues that relate to:
Logistics management consists of formulating strategy, planning, controlling, and monitoring (carried out in an effective manner that minimizes global costs) the processes of flow and storage of raw materials, supplies, inventory, work-in-progress, finished goods, and relevant information from the point of origin to the point of consumption in order to best adapt to and satisfy customer needs.
The idea resulting from the cited definition, especially in the first part (management function), should form the background for the concept of logistics management of transport processes. Although the essence of logistics management is associated with production activities, there is nothing to prevent this concept from becoming the guiding motto for the transport operations of an airline, which should be characterized by: a high standard of passenger transport and quality guarantees for cargo transport. Everything related to seeking specific solutions in the sphere of increasing organizational efficiency requires systemic solutions, the direction of which is determined by the definition of a logistics system. A logistics system should be classified as more complex, defined as “purposefully organized and integrated within a given economic system – flows of material and products and the corresponding information, enabling optimization in supply chain management (e.g., through automatic identification of goods, computer simulation, controlling, electronic data interchange, and comprehensive cost accounting).” Such an approach to the system does not mean that there is chaos and confusion at airports, and therefore the task of logistics is to introduce the necessary order. The idea resulting from the definition of a logistics system points to solutions that can contribute to improving operations or drawing attention to specific limitations hindering the efficient functioning of an airline enterprise.
In the sphere of practice, activities identified with logistics should be divided into two sequences: activities related to the organization of air transport and the functioning of the enterprise.
Practical activities in the field of air transport of passengers and goods
The scope of undertakings in the area of securing air transport of passengers and goods is shown in Fig. 1. The Air Traffic Agency –
manages air traffic over the entire territory of the country. Thanks to the availability of top-class equipment and highly qualified personnel, it ensures safe air traffic control for hundreds of flight operations over Polish territory every day. The control system includes state-of-the-art radars: GMR –
Ground Movement and Approach Control –
ASR 9. One of the most modern radar data and flight plan processing systems is also in operation –
AMS 2000 by Westinghouse –
in area control, powered by data from 5 primary radars and 8 secondary radars. The Air Traffic Management Center is equipped with a modern communication system by FREQUENTIS. The operational capabilities of the Center meet the standards resulting from the European program for the harmonization and integration of air traffic control. In addition to Air Traffic Control operations (Area, Approach, and Tower), the new ATMC performs tasks for the following services: Air Traffic Flow Management, Airspace Management, and Aeronautical Information. In addition to typical operational services, the facility also houses Aeronautical Information services and technical support services, the Aviation Training Center, engineering-
system units and administration –
constituting in total the headquarters of the Air Traffic Agency, which manages all air traffic.