A lot of airport users, travelers and non-travelers alike, always seem to confuse the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders at Banjul International Airport (BIA). Hence, more often than not, complains are lodged in generic ways making it difficult to hold the concerned authority responsible and address the problem. Needless to say, passengers, escorts and all citizens ought to know the different stakeholders at play at any given time. Knowing your airport stakeholders, will not only help in expressing your concerns to the appropriate authorities but will also ensure that service providers are held accountable for what they have been mandated to do. Without much I do, let’s dive in!
Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
In simple terms, GCAA is the landlord at the airport. It is a public entity responsible for providing regulatory functions, management of airport facilities and commercial activities at the airport. GCAA provides many services; some of which include securing the airport perimeters; granting or restricting access to sensitive areas (zones) within the airport; and providing air navigational services to flights operating in and out of BIA. Have you noticed the airport security officer that allows and stops people from entering the terminal building or check-in areas? That’s them! They are also responsible for scanning passengers and their luggage before departure to ensure that they are safe for flight. Visit their website to learn more.
Gambia International Airlines (GIA)
Formally known as Gambia Airways, GIA is mandated to provide air transport and related services to airlines operating at BIA. Their activities are categorized into four areas; ground handling (which includes passenger and ramp services); cargo handling (import and export); hajj operations and travel agency where tickets are sold. When you’re traveling, GIA staff check-you in, load you luggage in the plane, drive you to and fro the foot of the aircraft, provide you with the steps to climb in and out of the plane, etc. They are also responsible to tracking your luggage when they are missed/ failed to arrive. GIA is likewise responsible for airlifting Gambian pilgrims to and fro the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Visit GIA’s website for more information.
Securiport
Securiport is a privately owned, independent company, serving governments around the world by empowering them with smarter solutions that keep travelers safe and borders secured. Securiport provides cutting-edge border management technologies through solutions-based services at no cost to clients. In The Gambia however, this entity is responsible for collecting the “supposed” security fee of D1000 or USD20 or GBP20 (-D200) or EUR20 (-D100), from every passenger traveling to and from Banjul International Airport. Please do not ask me where this money goes to because I have no idea, I am also trying to figure that out! However, you should know that this is a private company rendering services on behalf of the Gambia Immigration Department to ensure travelers’ safety and secured border. Click the link to learn more about Securiport.
Air Rep Services
A privately owned company also operating at Banjul International Airport responsible for full passenger profiling and security, by verifying passengers’ document to ensure that they are indeed authentic. Similar to GIA, Air Rep Services also provide passenger handling services to few airlines operating at BIA. Learn more about Air Rep Services here.
Gambia Immigration Department (GID)
GID is responsible for verifying passports of passengers to ensure every passenger is traveling with valid traveling document including visas. Immigration officers inspect and stamp arriving and departing passengers’ passports. Learn more about GID here.
Gambia Revenue Authority, Customs
Customs officers are only found at the Arrival Hall. They scan and where necessary physically inspect arriving passengers’ luggage to ensure custom duties are paid on taxable goods brought in by passengers. If you are found to be in possession of goods that are taxable, you will be required to pay custom duties on the said goods. Check their website to learn more on the taxable and duty free goods.
Do you have any concern or want us to talk more about a particular entity or service at the airport? Leave your comment below.
Very good article! Thank you
Is that the whole lots of stakeholders you stated…. How about ministry of Health offering health screening, and COVID 19 response activities like testing, certification, etc
There are more stakeholders for sure, and we can definitely write about them too. However, the ones mentioned in this post play key roles in passengers’ travel experiences. But please, Let us know if you think we should write about the others too..we’ll be glad to do so!
Thanks for that info bro,,However,my point of dismay are these:
1.why many of them (so -called airport workers) upon arrival of passengers at a point of “luggage claiming “ they will n of have any name tag or identification car neither a uniform to show what they do or are.
2.the distance between the point of landed planes ✈️ to that of luggage claiming point isn’t far but they tend to wastes people’s time as a result some found out that their luggage’s are opened and items stolen
3.why the security fee. No place that I ever travelled via do ask such fee and was told I do pay as part of my ticket fee,so why?
4.why the so-called workers in the airport do tend to fill the point where passengers claim their bags why and without any identification such places not meant for everyone why in Gambia 🇬🇲 😭🤔
5.finally why is it ,after scanning ones luggage 🧳 following the protocols thoroughly then later someone will claim to be the drug swart /agent will ask to open while bag and search ?
This isn’t encouraging
Kally, we do feel you pain as we, at some point, are also travelers.Here are some answers to your questions for clarification…and most likely, we will have to make another post to talk more about some of these players you’ve mentioned.
1. Most of the workers at the arrival hall/area are security officers and potters who assist passengers with their luggage. It is the responsibility of GCAA to issue identification cards to all workers working at sensitive areas of the airport, such as arrival hall and enforce that every worker wears their IDs where it will be visible. Perhaps, we may have to reiterate this in our next post for a positive change!
2. I believe you’re talking about delayed in arrival of passengers’ luggage. This is mostly because bags have to be offloaded from the aircraft first, then taken to the terminal for passengers to collect. However, with large body aircraft, such as Brussels airlines, this process takes a little longer because bags are first loaded in containers which have to be offloaded from the aircraft first, driven to baggage make-up area, then offload from the container to the belt for passenger to collect. In the case of tampered bags, these mostly occur at originating or transiting points. it may also be that it happen in BJL airport however there are always security personnel around the areas where bags are being handled.
3. This “security fee” is a big question mark for even most airport workers, because in most cases, security fees are normally already factored in your air tickets. But we hope the government or securiport officials will shed more light on this in our subsequent posts…look forward to it!
4. Answered in number 1 above.
5. In most cases, you’re asked to open your bag by the drug squad/customs officers if they suspect that you may be carrying malicious/dangerous goods/ or taxable goods which may or may not have been clearly identified by the scanning machine.
Look out for our subsequent posts where we will shed more lights on things deemed dangerous or unsafe for flight! Hope this helps.
Now I understand what happens at the airport. My question is, are all the players necessary?
They play different roles in your traveling experience/process at the airport, so yes the ones mentioned here are relevant for arriving or departing passengers.
Nice one