The AHM contains all the industry-approved policies and standards to support safe and efficient ground operations above and below the wing.
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”.
2023 Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
2023 Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
2023 AHM & IGOM Combo
2023 AHM & IGOM Combo
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
Still not sure if the AHM is for you? Download the full table of contents with over 15 sample pages.
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.