IGHC 2025 sets ground handling priorities for air transport industry

May 13, 2025 in Business, Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Embedding safety in every action, driving standardization, enhancing baggage processes, and building a sustainable and inclusive future, took centre stage as international airlines lobby IATA, opened its Kenya Airways hosted Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) in Nairobi today.

Speaking at the opening, Monika Mejstrikova, IATA’s Director of Ground Operations, emphasized that ground handling is essential to aviation, underpinning safety, enabling operational efficiency, and shaping the passenger experience. As the industry grapples with tighter turnarounds, increasing regulatory demands, and ambitious climate targets, Mejstrikova called for unified industry action to modernize operations and strengthen safety culture across the board.

Safety remains aviation’s top priority, and IATA is intensifying its push to integrate safety into every aspect of ground operations. By incorporating ground-related fatalities into its global safety taxonomy for the first time, and expanding data collection through the Incident and Accident Data Exchange programs, IATA has introduced several targeted updates to the Ground Operations Manual. These include revised protocols for pushbacks, brake checks, fire safety, chock placement, and hot brake procedures—all developed using shared safety data. The adoption of Enhanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE), which incorporates proximity sensors, is gaining momentum under IATA’s recognition program. From April 2025, all ISAGO-accredited locations will require GSE safety declarations. IATA also highlighted its new X565 digital data standard for aircraft weight and balance, which improves turnaround safety and efficiency and is already being adopted by major airlines and manufacturers.

Standardization was identified as a key enabler of both safety and efficiency. The Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) and the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) remain foundational tools. In 2024, ISAGO achieved a record 400 station accreditations and delivered significant operational value, helping the industry avoid 545 internal audits and reduce procurement time, saving a combined USD 8.7 million. A revamped ISAGO model launching in mid-2025 will introduce innovations such as remote document checks and reduced audit fees. Meanwhile, IATA’s OPS Portal is now widely used by airlines and ground handlers for gap analysis, benchmarking, and training, with more than 500 organizations participating globally.

IATA is also advancing its 10-year Global Baggage Roadmap, aimed at achieving full digitalization, end-to-end tracking, and automation. Updates to baggage standards and fraud prevention tools, alongside Resolution 753 implementation, are designed to enhance passenger satisfaction while reducing mishandling.

Sustainability and inclusion are also central to IATA’s ground handling vision. Electrifying GSE offers a major opportunity to reduce emissions, with the potential to cut up to 48pc of turnaround-related CO₂ output. IATA has published planning and investment tools to guide the industry through the transition. Additionally, efforts to improve accessibility across air travel include updated handling guidance for over 400 types of mobility aids, many of which use lithium batteries.

The conference underscored the need for collaboration among airlines, regulators, manufacturers, and ground service providers to align with global best practices and advance shared goals.