IATA highlights 3 keys for unlocking future ground handling

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted three key priorities for the ground handling industry to support the growing demand for air travel. They are harmonising global standards to improve safety, improving collaboration between stakeholders, and developing talent. Speaking at the 31st IATA Ground Handling Conference in Doha, Qatar, IATA’s Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, Nick Careen described effective ground handling operations as “essential” to support the airline industry.
“Effective ground operations are an essential part of the airline industry’s efforts to meet the forecast growth in demand for air connectivity. In preparing for the future we need to focus on consistently implementing global standards, enhanced collaboration, and accelerating modernized processes,” he said. He called for the ground handling industry to accelerate the global adoption of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) to ensure a level of operational consistency and safety across the industry worldwide. “
Aviation grows safer when global standards are consistently applied. IGOM is the global standard and worldwide implementation is our target,” Careen said. IATA also called on governments to recognize the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)—based on IGOM standards—in their regulatory frameworks. “We are asking governments to universally recognize ISAGO as an acceptable means of compliance for operators’ oversight of outsourced services in ground operations.
This will foster harmonization across the industry, reduce redundant audits, improve safety, and enhance operational effciency,” said Careen.
As of April 2018, the number of ground service providers (GSPs) in the ISAGO Registry surpassed 230, with almost 450 registered stations in over 300 airports worldwide. ISAGO is recognized by several airport authorities, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, Seattle Tacoma, Miami, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and the civil aviation authorities of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Netherlands, and many others. Careen urged even greater collaboration across stakeholder groups to improve safety and operational efficiency.
Following on such successful collaborative efforts as ISAGO and the IATA Ground Damage Database, the IATA Ground Operations Group (GOG) was established as a collaborative forum for airlines and ground handlers to work together. The aim of the GOG is to provide strategic direction on the development and implementation of ground handling standards and technology with a focus on improving safety and efficiency.
“We have high expectations for the GOG. Its three-year plan to address safety and efficiency issues will lead to much-needed improvements in such critical areas of operations as training, the development of ground support equipment, and load control. But the industry will only realize the full benefits that the GOG can bring if it has the support of all stakeholders in the ground handling industry.