Effective recruitment and retention of staff:

A recent IATA survey found that 37% of ground handling professionals anticipated staff shortages until the end of 2023 and beyond, and 60% felt they did not have enough qualified staff to ensure smooth operations. In addition, 27% of respondents feared that their current employees would soon leave.

"Creating a stable talent base for ground handling is essential. And it can be achieved by making ramp work more attractive. We need to embrace automation to free staff from difficult and dangerous tasks, foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth, and create a safe and inclusive environment for people where talent is nurtured," Mejstrikova said.

IATA outlined a number of initiatives to help alleviate labour shortages:

Implementation of competency-based training, with more online assessments to improve speed and efficiency.

Mutual recognition of security training and employee background records between authorities, to speed up the hiring process and reduce redundancy Automation of processes to avoid people performing physically challenging tasks.

Promotion of professional development and rewarding years of training and skills.

IATA has just launched a Ground Ops training passport that supports staff retention and career growth. It mutually recognises the skills and training of ground handlers, airlines and airports to drive cross-utilisation of qualified staff.

"The real beneficiary of the training passport is the employee. They will have access to their training records, allowing them to use their knowledge and skills for continuous professional growth. An industry-wide approach to talent development will bring great benefits in terms of efficiency for all involved. We need to empower our employees for success," said Mejstrikova.

Global Process Standardisation:

Global standards are the basis for safe and efficient operations. Two key tools for ground handling services are the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) and the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO).

IGOM: IATA called on the ground handling industry to accelerate the global adoption of IGOM to ensure safety and operational consistency worldwide. To support this, IATA has launched the IGOM Portal. An easy-to-use online platform where airlines and ground handlers can share the results of their gap analysis between company procedures and IGOM, providing a global benchmark for harmonisation and driving efficiency. More than 140 airlines have already subscribed to its services and the Portal is now being opened to ground handling service providers (GHSPs).

ISAGO: Nearly 40 airports and regulators globally endorsed ISAGO to complement their monitoring/compliance, performance or licensing systems through cooperation agreements. IATA urged more governments to recognise ISAGO in their regulatory frameworks for oversight to deliver significant benefits, including greater harmonisation, implementation of the Safety Management System (SMS) and reduction of duplicate audits.

Another area where IATA called for greater standardisation is baggage. IATA is working on updating baggage standards to reflect new developments in real-time tracking, electronic baggage tags and Bluetooth technology.

"We all know the frustration of losing luggage. And the cost to the industry is staggering. In 2019, 25.4 million bags were lost or delayed, resulting in a bill of $2.5 billion. IATA is committed to improving baggage handling through collaboration and innovation," said Mejstrikova.

Digitisation and automation:

Digitalisation and automation are key to improving both sustainability and efficiency and driving process improvements. IATA outlined three priorities:

Ramp Digitalization: the IATA Ground Operations Digitalization and Automation Working Group (GAD) has developed the Timestamps Turnaround (XTST) message to provide standardised communication and real-time network monitoring for airlines. Implementation of the XTST standard can reduce ground handling delays by up to 5% worldwide.

Digitisation of cargo screening: IATA is pioneering the automation of cargo screening, using the new X565 digital standard to reduce workload, costs and errors while enabling real-time updates.

GSE automation: transition to enhanced ground support equipment (enhanced GSE), which could reduce ground damage costs by 42% and create a safer environment. Autonomous GSE trials are already underway in more than 15 countries. The transition to Enhanced GSE not only improves safety, but also reduces GSE CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes annually, contributing to a more sustainable industry.

"Ground operations are complex and delays are the bane of every response coordinator's existence. But with technological and communication advances, we can avoid delays, make operations safer, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable, while providing a better working experience for personnel on the ramp," Mejstrikova said.