IATA Urges Modernisation and Digitalisation of Ground Handling to Cut Damage Risks and Emissions

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for a broad-based upgrade of ground handling operations, pushing for safer equipment fleets, cleaner energy sources, and deeper digital integration to reduce costly aircraft damage and improve efficiency across the industry.

Speaking on the need to modernise ground support equipment (GSE), IATA’s Director of Ground Operations, Monika Mejstrikova, described aircraft ground damage as one of the sector’s most stubborn operational and financial threats. More than 29,000 ground damage events were reported in 2025 alone, a figure she warned will drive up costs as global traffic grows unless incident rates are curbed.

“Modernisation is not only about making equipment safer, but it is also about making it cleaner. Technology can help on both fronts,” Mejstrikova said. “Two priorities are the transition to enhanced GSE and electric GSE.”

To tackle safety, IATA launched the Enhanced GSE Recognition Programme in 2024 to accelerate the adoption of anti-collision technology on ground equipment. The programme has since received more than 450 applications, with 187 stations validated and 75 formally recognised for reducing operational risk.

On the environmental front, the association noted that while Sustainable Aviation Fuel remains central to aviation’s decarbonisation strategy, meaningful gains can be made on the ramp. Electric GSE, depending on equipment mix and the local electricity grid, can lower turnaround emissions by between 35 and 52 percent. IATA has recently published practical guidance to assist airports and ground handlers transitioning from fuel-powered to electric fleets.

Mejstrikova also highlighted digitalisation as a critical enabler, arguing that fragmented data, manual inputs, and delayed information continue to hamper both safety and efficiency.

“Too many ground handling processes still rely on disconnected systems, manual inputs, and delayed information. These gaps in data create opportunities for mistakes to happen—bags to be misplaced, aircraft to be loaded incorrectly, and risks identified too late,” she said. “Better data gives operators the visibility they need to enable faster, better decisions.”

IATA identified three areas where digitalisation could deliver immediate benefits. For baggage handling, the newly developed IATA Baggage Community System will link airlines, airports, and ground handlers on a single platform to enable real-time information sharing and improve bag tracking.

On aircraft loading, nearly 38,000 loading errors were reported in 2025. The association is advancing the X565 data standard to replace manual loading processes with faster, more accurate digital workflows. Boeing is supporting the use of X565 for the 737, while Airbus has extended it across the A320, A330, and A350 families, including future cargo variants. Airlines that have adopted digital load control and reconciliation systems have reported reductions in loading errors exceeding 90 percent, along with fewer delays.

In de-icing and anti-icing operations, IATA said carriers now have better risk visibility through the De-Icing/Anti-Icing Quality Control Pool, supported by stronger data sharing and a new industry dashboard designed to flag hazards earlier. The model is set to expand: the first major United States operator joined during the recent winter season, and engagement with China is deepening to align global standards.