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Aircraft ground handling#List of handling agents

{{short description|Servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground, typically at an airport gate}}

{{excessive examples|date=October 2021}}

{{lead too short|date=October 2021}}

File:Airbus A380-800 of Lufthansa in Frankfurt Germany - Aircraft ground handling at FRA EDDF.jpg Airbus A380 at Frankfurt Airport in Germany.]]

In aviation, aircraft ground handling or ground operations defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and (usually) parked at a terminal gate of an airport.

Overview

File:Icelandair Surtsey TF-FIJ boeing757-200.JPG Boeing 757 being serviced by another airline; SAS at Gardermoen Airport]]

File:ground.handling.arp.jpg Boeing 747-400 at Heathrow Airport, England]]

File:Qatar Airways Airbus A380-800 at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 before Flying to Doha, 6 Jan 2015.jpg operated by Qatar Airways on apron outside Heathrow Terminal 4 with a wide range of ground handling equipments around such as aircraft container, pallet loader, ULD, jet air starter, belt loader, pushback tug, catering vehicles and dollies.]]

Many airlines subcontract ground handling to airports, handling agents or even to another airline. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), conservative estimates indicate airlines outsource more than 50 per cent of the ground handling that takes place at the world's airports.{{citation|url=https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/ops-infra/pages/ground-handling.aspx|title=Ground Handling|publisher=International Air Transport Association |author=International Air Transport Association |archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005235112/https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/ops-infra/Pages/ground-handling.aspx}} Ground handling addresses the many service requirements of an airliner between the time it arrives at a terminal gate and the time it departs on its next flight. Speed, efficiency, and accuracy are important in ground handling services in order to minimize the turnaround time (the time during which the aircraft must remain parked at the gate).{{citation|url=http://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/ALOHA/ALOHA_PUB_DLRK_09-09-08.pdf|title=Improvements to ground handling operations and their benefits to direct operating costs|first1=F|last1=Gomez|first2=D|last2=Scholz|publisher=Hamburg University of Applied Sciences|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028011212/http://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/ALOHA/ALOHA_PUB_DLRK_09-09-08.pdf|archive-date=28 October 2013}} Faster turnarounds for lower ground times are correlated to better profits.{{cite news |url= https://airinsight.com/2017/05/08/correlation-airline-ground-time-profits/ |title= The correlation between airline ground time and profits |work= AirInsight |date= May 8, 2017}}

Airlines with less-frequent service or fewer resources at a particular location sometimes subcontract ground handling or on-call aircraft maintenance to another airline, as it is a short-term cheaper alternative to setting up its own ground handling or maintenance capabilities.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

File:Goldair Handling airport catering truck at Chania Airport.jpg.{{Credit|Marius Vassnes}}]]

Airlines may participate in an industry-standard Mutual Assistance Ground Service Agreement (MAGSA). The MAGSA is published by the Air Transport Association (the current version is from 1981) and is used by airlines to assess prices for maintenance and support to aircraft at so-called MAGSA Rates, which are updated annually based on changes in the U.S. Producer Price Index.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} Airlines may choose to contract for ground handling services under the terms of a Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA) published in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airport Handling Manual.{{citation|url=https://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/ahm.aspx|title=Airport Handling Manual (AHM)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018020202/http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/ahm.aspx|archive-date=18 October 2013|publisher=International Air Transport Association |author=International Air Transport Association}} Airlines may also contract for ground handling services under non-standard terms.

Most ground services are not directly related to the actual flying of the aircraft, and instead involve other tasks. The major categories of ground handling services are described below.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

=Aircraft Appearance and Provisioning=

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

Services related to aircraft cleanliness and passenger comfort:

  • Cabin cleaning – cleaning seats, galleys, and lavatories. Resetting the cabin (folding seatbelts, uniform seat and window shade position) to appear untouched.
  • Lavatory service – exterior service of lavatory by draining and filling of waste tanks.
  • Provisioning – replacing literature, blankets, pillows, and consumable supplies.
  • Security search – searching aircraft for prohibited items as required by airline policy or regulatory requirement.
  • Water service – exterior service of aircraft water system by filling tank with potable water for use inflight.

=Catering=

{{main|Catering}}

Catering includes the unloading of unused food and drink from the aircraft, and the loading of fresh food and drink for passengers and crew. In flight airline meals are delivered at the seats in airline service trolleys. Empty or trash-filled trolley from the previous flight are replaced with fresh ones. Meals are prepared mostly on the ground in order to minimize the amount of preparation (apart from chilling or reheating) required in flight.

While some airlines provide their own catering, others have either owned catering companies in the past and divested themselves of the companies, or have outsourced their catering to third-party companies. Airline catering sources include the following companies:

=Ramp service=

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}}

File:Boeing 757-251 - Northwest Airlines - N538US - EHAM (2).jpg Boeing 757-200 at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]]

File:Airbus A321-231 - British Airways - G-EUXH - EHAM (5).jpg aircraft being refueled]]

File:KLM Pushback tractor and ground power unit.jpg Pushback tractor and a ground power unit]]

File:Aircraft lavatory service.jpg

This includes services on the ramp or apron, such as:

  • Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of aircraft marshalling),
  • Towing with pushback tractors
  • Pre-Conditioned Air and Heating
  • Airstart units (for starting engines)
  • Luggage handling, usually by means of beltloaders and baggage carts
  • Gate checked luggage, often handled on the tarmac as passengers disembark
  • Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies and cargo loaders.
  • Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide aircraft power on the ground)
  • Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge or airstairs, some budget airlines use both to improve turnaround speed)
  • PIGS (Passenger Integrated Guidance System), a retractable barrier, is used to ensure passengers do not walk underneath the wings{{cite news |last1=Wignall |first1=Alec |title=How it works: the aircraft turnaround – AeroTime |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/32767-how-it-works-the-aircraft-turnaround |access-date=28 December 2023 |work=Aerotime |date=27 November 2022}}
  • Wheelchair lifts, if required
  • Deicing

=Passenger service=

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

File:Immaculate Flight working on a Global Express Aircraft.jpg cleaning]]

This includes services inside the airport terminal such as:

  • Providing check-in counter services for the passengers departing on the customer airlines.
  • Providing gate arrival and departure services. The agents are required to meet a flight on arrival as well as provide departure services including boarding passengers and closing the flight.
  • Staffing the transfer counters, customer service counters and airline lounges.

=Field operation service=

This service dispatches the aircraft, maintains communication with the rest of the airline operation at the airport and with Air Traffic Control.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

List of notable handling agents

{{listcruft|date=October 2021}}

=Asia=

Turkey

  • [https://jetmate.aero/ Jetmate Aviation]

==[[Bangladesh]]==

==[[India]]==

  • {{flagicon|IND}} Air India Airport Services Limited – all Indian airports – presently providing services at 74 airports in India
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited – Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Mangalore, Cochin
  • {{flagicon|IND}} LAS Ground Force Handling – Goa, Udaipur, Bagdogra
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Bhadra International India Pvt Ltd – Chennai
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Bird Worldwide Flight Services Pvt Ltd – Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Livewel Aviation – Mumbai, Delhi
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Globe Ground India – Ahmadabad, Bangalore
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Indo Thai Airport Management Services Pvt Ltd – Amritsar, Lucknow, Mohali
  • {{flagicon|IND}} Agile Airport Services Pvt Ltd – presently providing services at 8 airports in India

==[[Hong Kong]]==

==[[Japan]]==

==[[Korea]]==

==[[Laos]]==

==[[Nepal]]==

==[[Pakistan]]==

==[[Singapore]]==

  • {{flagicon|SIN}} SATS Ltd
  • {{flagicon|SIN}} dnata Singapore
  • {{flagicon|SIN}} Universal Aviation{{cite web |title=FBO, Ground Handling in Singapore (WSSL) |url=https://www.universalaviation.aero/ground-support-locations/singapore/singapore/WSSL/ |website=Universal Aviation |access-date=17 January 2020}}

==[[Philippines]]==

  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} [https://airmachaviation.com/ Airmach Aviation]
  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} 1 Aviation
  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} dnata Philippines
  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} MacroAsia Airport Services Corporation
  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} MDFS PHILIPPINES
  • {{flagicon|Philippines}} Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions

==[[Taiwan]]==

==[[Thailand]]==

=The Caribbean=

==[[Bahamas]]==

==[[Barbados]]==

==[[Jamaica]]==

==[[ St. Vincent and the Grenadines]]==

=Europe=

==[[Belgium]]==

== [[Cyprus]] ==

  • {{Flagicon|CYP}} LGS Handling
  • CTT Aviation Ltd.
  • {{Flagicon|CYP}} SWISSPORT

==[[Denmark]]==

==[[Finland]]==

  • {{flagicon|FIN}} AIRPRO
  • {{flagicon|FIN}} Aviator

==[[France]]==

  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Groupe Europe Handling
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} 3S Alyzia
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Aviapartner
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Ladybird Ground Services
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Samsic Assistance{{Cite web|url=https://www.samsic.fr/en/ground-handling|title = Services assistance aéroport: Handling, assistance en escale – Samsic}}
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Servair
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Elyxan Aviation

== [[Greece]] ==

  • {{Flagicon|Greece}} Goldair
  • {{Flagicon|Greece}} Skyserv
  • {{Flagicon|Greece}} Swissport hellas

==[[Ireland]]==

  • {{Flagicon|Ireland}} Sky Handling Partner

==[[Italy]]==

  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} Airport Handling
  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} Aviapartner
  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} Aviation Services
  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} Ags Handling

==[[Latvia]]==

  • {{Flagicon|Latvia}} HAVAS Ground Handling Co.

==[[Lithuania]]==

== [[Netherlands]] ==

== [[Norway]] ==

==[[Poland]]==

==[[Portugal]]==

==[[Russia]]==

and others. Usually each airport in Russia has it own ground handling company

==[[Sweden]]==

==[[Switzerland]]==

==[[Turkey]]==

== [[United Kingdom]] ==

  • {{flagicon|UK}} Airline Services
  • {{flagicon|UK}} American Airlines Handling (subsidiary of American Airlines){{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/destinationInformation/lhr-airport.jsp|title=London Heathrow, United Kingdom (LHR)|website=aa.com}}
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Aviator Nordic
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Azzurra / Premiere Handling
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Blue Handling (joint venture between Ryanair and OmniServ{{cite web | url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-appoints-handler-at-london-stansted-airport/ | title=Ryanair Appoints Handler at London Stansted Airport – Ryanair's Corporate Website | date=15 October 2018 }})
  • {{flagicon|UK}} British Airways
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Cobalt Ground Solutions{{Cite web|url=https://www.cobaltgs.com/|title=Cobalt Ground Solutions}}
  • {{flagicon|UK}} DHL
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Dnata
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Gatwick Ground Services (subsidiary of British Airways){{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10390742|title=GATWICK GROUND SERVICES LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}}
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Jet2 Handling
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Menzies Aviation
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Signature Flight Support{{Cite web|url=https://www.signatureflight.com/locations/bhx|title=Signature BHX | Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Birmingham Airport|website=signatureflight.com}}
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Star Handling
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Swissport GB
  • {{flagicon|UK}} World Flight Services (WFS)
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Premiere Executive Handling Ltd
  • {{flagicon|UK}} ASC Handling Services

=Middle East=

=North and Central America=

==[[Canada]]==

==[[Cuba]]==

==[[Mexico]]==

  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Kion de Mexico
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Aeromexico Servicios

==[[United States]]==

:* Airport Terminal Services (ATS)

:* Total Airport Services (TAS)

:* WFS Express

=South America=

==[[Peru]]==

==[[Uruguay]]==

  • {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} Candysur S.A.

=Oceania=

==[[Australia]]==

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{citation|title=ISO 9001:2008—Quality management systems}}

External links

{{commonscatinline}}

  • {{citation|url=http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/workgroups/Pages/ghc.aspx|title=IATA Ground Handling Council|author=International Air Transport Association|publisher=International Air Transport Association|access-date=2013-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927144002/http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/workgroups/Pages/ghc.aspx|archive-date=2013-09-27|url-status=dead}}
  • {{citation|url=http://www.groundhandling.com/ghipublication/|title=Ground Handling International|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200614/http://www.groundhandling.com/ghipublication/|archive-date=2013-10-29}}