There is some light at the end of the tunnel, however. Around the world, nations have begun immunisation programmes that it is hoped will provide a high level of protection against Covid-19. If so, we can hope that confidence in air travel might quickly return.

Moreover, while the industry has been hard hit, aviation retains an important place in international trade – demand for air cargo capacity remains strong, unlike that for passenger seats – and it is playing a vital role in moving vaccines across the globe.

Thus, Airside continues to have plenty on which to report. Features in this issue take in assessments of the growing interest in electric high lifts and loaders, alongside a similarly increasing realisation of the value of today’s tracking and telematics technologies. We also examine how airport operators take care to keep their runways in a safe and operationally efficient condition.

Related to the latter subject, Airside considers how airport operators go about making the vital choices on when to upgrade their pavement surfaces and how the Pavy cloud-based product can help them in that decision-making process.

In terms of product updates, we cover the latest modifications to the PaxLIft ambulift and Goldhofer Sherpa E electric tractors, as well as new take-up of Mallaghan’s TA8299 de-icer.

The challenge facing handlers at the moment is not forgotten, as we consider the latest news from Alliance Ground International (AGI), AeroGround and Turkey’s Havas.

Staying in Turkey, Pegasus Airlines offers its thoughts on how carriers can keep their own handlers as well as passengers safe from the virus, while news from GSE manufacturers includes an interview with David Burgess – the new managing director of Bliss-Fox – and words of wisdom from Nathalie Hayes, operations director of UK-based electric vehicle supplier JLC.

Finally, Mark Finch, latterly of Menzies Aviation and now managing director of consultancy firm EDIwave, offers his thoughts on the value of the more sustainable GSE that is now widely available to both operators and the environment.

We hope you enjoy the issue.