Tafawuq Transportation is part of Tafawuq FM and is a business addition formed to target the specialist critical Facility Management market of Airports, Ports & Transportation Projects.

1. "An airport, depending on its
size, operates similarly to a
town or city."
To ensure passengers are able to traverse the airport there are quite often rail systems; many escalators and
lifts, and of course, moving walk-ways. When searching for flight information, luggage carousels or a specific
service such as passenger lounges, the passenger is bombarded with signs, blue ones, green ones; all the
colours of the rainbow are suspended from ceilings, abutted to walls and affixed to departure gates, there are
hundreds, perhaps thousands providing relevant, sometimes not so relevant information.
For those who know and have worked airports, two facts are prominent; they are a nightmare to manage
operationally and probably one of the most challenging environments a Facility Services Manager will encounter;
sleepless nights become the norm.
Subsequently, Tafawuq Transportation decided to scrutinise the demands a Facility Management business would
need to contend with if it is going to be successful in delivering a proficient professional Facilities Management
service to an airport; a service that does not fail.
What constitutes an airport?
Quite simply there are two constituents; landside and airside. Tafawuq Transportation decided to scrutinise both
“sides”. Firstly, Tafawuq asked questions internally; personnel from all walks of life, and from many differing
cultures, holding an array of work jobs associated with delivering first class asset management, aka facilities
management were invited to participate, the responses were illuminating, often innovative and always interesting.
Subsequently in the coming weeks Tafawuq Transportation will disclose its findings.
What is Landside?
Landside is where passengers are deposited by friends, taxis, trains and coaches to join the hurly-burly activity of
an airport as they rush, some dawdle and others stampede their way to the check-in desk and onward to their
flight. There are car parking areas, luggage trolley bays, porters, maintenance people and signs; we must never
forget the signs. Airlines, hotels and rental car companies advertise their wares before reaching the check-in and
receiving the all-important boarding pass necessary to pass through immigration and customs before finally
arriving airside.
What is Airside?
Airside is probably best described as the business end of the airport. The excited, perhaps disgruntled traveller,
upon crossing between landside and airside is suddenly hit by clamour emitting from duty-free shops,
restaurants, food courts, passenger lounges and colour, colour abounds. And yes signs, they are everywhere.
Regular travellers know the pitfalls; therefore they successfully negotiate towards a quiet corner to await their
flight announcement.
Finally, when peering from a window, one is rewarded by the sight of majestic metal birds proudly displaying their
colours, waiting to board two-hundred plus passengers, standing patiently while they are being fuelled with not
only Jet-fuel but with food, beverages, luggage and cargo, an extraordinary sight.
info@tafawuq.ae, www.tafawuq.ae
For the majority of the day thousands of people are in evidence. Many are working; cleaners, engineers, airline
ground staff, cabin crews rushing towards their flight, caterers, luggage handlers and countless others, but
mostly they are passengers. Passengers who are utilising the many eateries, shopping in duty free shops;
resting in designated areas, perhaps reading, sleeping or conversing.
AVIATION AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT THE AIRPORT