Purpose

Strategic Partners in the Ground Operations Area of Involvement will participate in working groups and activities to improve safety and operational efficiency in ground operations. 

Ground Operations Strategic Partnerships Summary

Ground operations are an integral part of airline operations. IATA strives to lead the industry towards improved safety and operational efficiency in ground operations by developing standards, strategies and industry positions on sustainable ground operations, driving digitalization and automation of ramp operations. Further activities include initiating and encouraging the implementation of global solutions and running oversight programs for Ground Handling Service Providers. IATA represents the interests of its members globally, within specific regions, with regulators, interest groups and key industry stakeholders.

Benefits

Participation in relevant group(s) below. 

Activities

Access to meetings and working groups are subject to individual group terms of references.

Ground Operations Standards Working Group (GOS)
This working group develops and amends standards in areas of passenger and ramp handling; organization management, supervision, safety including occupational health and safety, training, and procurement of ground handling services. Such standards are published in:

There are four subgroups in GOS:

  1. Passenger and Baggage Handling – enhancing IGOM chapters 1 and 2 to improve the operational processes, ensure consistency, safety and standardization. For passenger handling, the emphasis is on refining procedures for passenger departure, security screening, arrival, and transfer or transit operations. In baggage handling, the subgroup is working on standardizing practices for cabin baggage, checked baggage, offloading of checked baggage, and the management of mishandled or unclaimed baggage.
  2. Ramp Operations and Safety - enhancing IGOM chapters 3 and 4, as well as AHM chapter 6, subgroup is strengthening the standards and procedures related to ramp operations and safety. For IGOM chapter 3, the emphasis is on improving aircraft servicing processes such as cleaning, catering, and water/waste management. Chapter 4 enhancements target ramp operations, including aircraft marshalling, loading/unloading of cargo and baggage, and ground support equipment usage.
  3. Training - enhancing AHM chapter 11, which outlines the training requirements for ground handling personnel. Their work aims to improve the clarity, consistency, and applicability of training standards across various operational roles. This includes refining job roles and functions and applicable training syllabi and supporting the development of competency-based training programs. The goal is to promote a standardized approach to training that strengthens safety, operational performance, and compliance throughout the ground handling industry.
  4. Contracts - the subgroup is responsible for updating the Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA) in AHM chapter 8, enhancing the clarity, relevance, and usability of the agreement to better reflect current operational realities. Their work involves reviewing and refining the contractual language, aligning service descriptions with updated IGOM procedures, and ensuring that the terms support fair and transparent relationships between airlines and ground service providers. The goal is to make the SGHA more adaptable to diverse operational environments while promoting consistency, accountability, and mutual understanding across the industry.

 

Ground Operations Automation Digitalization Working Group (GAD)
This working group develops and amends standards in areas of load control, ramp digitalization and automation and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) management. Such standards are published in:

There are two subgroups in GAD:

  1. GSE management - enhancing AHM chapters 7, 9, and 10 and improving standards related to Ground Support Equipment (GSE) management and operations. Their work includes updating procedures for GSE maintenance, inspection, and lifecycle management, as well as integrating guidelines for the safe and efficient use of autonomous vehicles in ground handling environments. The subgroup is also addressing advancements in enhanced GSE technologies and promoting sustainability by incorporating practices for hydrogen-powered and electric GSE. These updates aim to support safer, greener, and more technologically advanced ground operations across the industry.
  2. Digital Ramp and Load Control - enhancing chapter 5 in IGOM and AHM and the GOXML toolkit and improving standards and tools related to documentation and messaging in ground operations. Their work involves refining procedures for the creation, exchange, and management of operational messages and records, ensuring consistency between manual processes and digital systems. For the GOXML toolkit, the focus is on enhancing digital message formats and interoperability to support more efficient, accurate, and automated data exchange between stakeholders. These updates aim to streamline communication, reduce errors, and support the industry's transition toward more digital and integrated ground handling operations.

Focus Areas

  • Operations and business processes (passenger handling, baggage handling, ramp handling, load control, aircraft messages, operational oversight and GSE specification, maintenance, and environment)
  • Safety and management (injury and aircraft damage prevention, Safety Management Systems and Intergrated Management Systems)
  • Digitalization and automation (ramp digitalization and timestamps turnaround, ramp automation, digital load control and autonomous ground support equipment)
  • Ground handling contracts and Service Level Agreements (handling services, training and SLAs)
  • Operations training program (training management, safety and non-operational functions, passenger and ramp handling, load control and GSE maintenance)
  • Development and update of IATA publications, products, and solutions (AHM, IGOM, ISAGO audit checklists, GO XML toolkit, OPS portal).

Designed For

  • GSE providers and manufacturers
  • Airframe manufacturers (for ground handling requirements)
  • Departure Control System (DCS) providers
  • Legal firms and insurance companies (for SGHA only)


> View the full list of Strategic Partnerships Program Benefits