Airport Handling Manual (AHM)

Order the AHM online

If you are new to the AHM, all versions are updated annually. Digital products come with automatic updates for the year and a search function that makes finding current information easy. Plus, it's cheaper.

Note: Airport Handling Manual is a complementary manual to IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM). Buy them together and save. The IGOM is procedure driven, focusing on “how to ​​do”. The AHM is policy driven and focuses on “what to do”​​​​​​​.

You can benefit from Volume discounts when purchasing the AHM & IGOM Combos: 10% discount for 5-9 units, 20% for 10-24 units, 30% for 25-99 units and 40% for 100 units or more. Contact our sales team for volume orders.

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What's inside the AHM

The AHM includes the only industry-recognized contract template, the Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA) and the suggested template for Service Level Agreement (SLA).

• Chapter 1 – Passenger handling
• Chapter 2 – Baggage handling
• Chapter 3 – Cargo/mail handling
• Chapter 4 – Aircraft handling and loading
• Chapter 5 – Load control
• Chapter 6 – Management and safety
• Chapter 7 – Aircraft movement control
• Chapter 8 – Ground handling agreements
• Chapter 9 – Airport handling ground support equipment specifications
• Chapter 10 – Environmental specifications for ground handling operations
• Chapter 11 – Ground operations training program

Stay up-to-date

Every year, significant changes are made to policies and standards, that's why we publish a new edition of the AHM yearly.

The significant changes that were made to the 43rd AHM include:

• Inclusion of the GOSM (ISAGO Standards Manual) Ed.10 checklists in the electronic version in the toolbox.
• Major Revisions to the AHM 810 Standard Ground Handling Agreement:
  Main Agreement: a complete revamp of 1.6 Emergency Assistance to align with AHM 620; establishment of the AHM Chapter 11 as the minimum training requirement; setting IGOM as the minimum standards for Ground Ops to be implemented by airlines and handlers; enhancement of corporate responsibility;  a 3-month storage period for “EDI” messages; changes in the request for an adjustment to the handling charge due to the schedule; frequencies or procedures and mandatory minimum wage changes;  and the introduction of a new sub-article covering the request for an adjustment to the handling charge due to a material change to the Carriers’ manual, procedures or instructions Annexes A & B: Items 3.1.10 and 6.2.2 Clarification of the baggage tracking and tracking systems; Item 2.23 change from Travel Documents to Documents Required to Travel distinguishing between travel documents, visas and health-related documents as per ICAO Annex 9 and IGOM Chapter 1; Renaming of Section 3.8 to Ground Movement of Aircraft and update of the Section to align with IGOM; Complete update of Section 5.4 -Physical Handling Outbound/inbound; and a complete update to Section 7 – Security to align with changes in ICAO Annex 17
• AHM 820: Standards Ground Handling Subcontracting Agreement has been updated to align with the new SGHA 2023
• New AHM 908: Autonomous Vehicles – guideline for the autonomous vehicle to be able to operate airside, risk assessment included in the toolbox
• AHM 917: Complete revision to now include GSE maintenance checklists for each type of GSE
• AHM 921: Changes introduced to address some safety concerns raised by the industry related to boarding and deboarding passengers with reduced mobility
• AHM 926, 927: Changes addressing safety concerns for catering vehicle operations
• AHM 1110: Overall update of the ramp handling training modules and alignment with the IGOM Ed.12 changes: Update of the passenger, and ramp handling job functions and matching them with training matrices in 11.2; Update of the Load Control modules and job functions; Introduction of a new layout/structure for training management; and Identification of the training industry Best Practices to be implemented by companies and to differentiate it from guidance.