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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged for increased adoption of global standards and for moving towards advanced ground handling equipment (GSE) and digitalization within the industry. The move will help enhance safety, efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in the field of ground handling. The announcement was made during the 38th edition of the IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC), which kicked off in Cairo under the auspices of EgyptAir.
“While ground handling is usually invisible to passengers, its impact on their travel experience is obvious when something goes wrong. Be it a delay in receiving baggage, damage to aircraft, a mistake in loading, or a problem with turnaround. Such incidents take only a few minutes, but their consequences can affect a whole network. Increased implementation of standards, advanced equipment, and digitalization are essential foundations of future ground handling operations,” explained Monika Mejstrikova, IATA’s Director Ground Operations.
According to the recent statistics on ground handling safety by IATA, there have been no fatalities and only one serious injury reported from ground handling in 2025, among nearly 40 million flights. Standards are essential for ensuring safe and efficient ground operations. The IGOM and the AHM are considered critical guidelines for all airlines and ground handling service providers (GHSPs). As per IATA, there is a need to move faster towards the implementation of these standards, avoid any unnecessary variations, and increase the utilization of audit programs like ISAGO.
Damage to aircraft on the ground is one of the most enduring operational and financial hazards in ground handling, with nearly 29,000 incidents of aircraft ground damage occurring in 2025. However, unless we manage to decrease the frequency of such cases, the expenses will escalate as our industry continues to grow. Modernization, however, involves much more than just ensuring that our equipment is safe. It must also be environmentally friendly. “One of the two priorities is a move towards improved GSE and electric GSE,” said Mejstrikova.
Disjointed data, manual work, and delayed data are still significant obstacles to improved safety and efficiency in ground handling.
“Ground handling processes continue to depend heavily on disjointed systems, manual entries, and delayed data. This gap in the availability of data creates chances for errors, lost luggage, misloaded planes, and the identification of hazards late in the process. Data leads to greater visibility and decision-making,” said Mejstrikova.
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Lufthansa Cargo has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of LUG aircargo handling GmbH, strengthening its cargo handling infrastructure in Germany and creating additional capacity to support future growth. The agreement was signed on September 7, 2026, as Lufthansa Cargo looks to build a stronger foundation for sustainable and profitable growth. The acquisition is part of the company’s broader growth strategy and is expected to enhance its flexibility, efficiency and competitiveness in an increasingly volatile air cargo market. Through the planned acquisition, Lufthansa Cargo will gain immediately available additional handling capacity in Germany. The move will complement its existing ground handling infrastructure, which is currently being modernised under the LCCevo programme, backed by an investment of around €600 million. According to Lufthansa Cargo, the acquisition will not lead to changes for customers of either company. LUG aircargo handling will continue to operate independently in the market, retaining its established structures and customer relationships following the transaction. LUG aircargo handling, part of the Dettmer Group, has more than 60 years of experience in air cargo handling and employs around 400 people. The company operates approximately 50,000 square metres of covered warehouse space in Germany, along with another 18,000 square metres of office and infrastructure space, and serves major international airlines. Commenting on the agreement, Frank Bauer, Chief Operating Officer, Lufthansa Cargo, said the company is making targeted investments in its German infrastructure to become more flexible, efficient and resilient for customers while supporting profitable growth. The Dettmer Group has also welcomed the planned transaction, stating that LUG is well positioned for further growth under Lufthansa Cargo’s ownership. The acquisition's completion remains subject to the necessary antitrust and regulatory approvals. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
UAE-based cargo carrier SolitAir has expanded its African freighter network with new services to Port Harcourt in Nigeria and Hargeisa in Somaliland, strengthening air cargo connectivity between the Gulf and underserved markets across the continent. The new destinations are served through Port Harcourt International Airport (PHC) and Egal International Airport (HGA), respectively. Their addition takes SolitAir’s African network to 20 destinations across 16 countries, while its global footprint now covers more than 60 destinations in over 35 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. The expansion is closely aligned with regional trade requirements. Port Harcourt is a major logistics gateway for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, creating demand for dependable cargo capacity. Hargeisa, meanwhile, serves a commercial region where exports such as livestock and time-sensitive agricultural products depend on reliable air freight connections. SolitAir has already completed a specialised cargo operation to Port Harcourt, carrying 20 tonnes of general cargo on a Boeing 737-800BCF freighter. The one-off operation followed a multi-sector routing through Dubai World Central (DWC), Nairobi, Port Harcourt and Kuwait, leveraging the carrier’s East African hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. SolitAir said frequencies on the route could be increased and scheduled regularly depending on customer demand. The carrier said its network expansion is being driven by customer requirements and emerging trade flows rather than a fixed route-development strategy. Hamdi Osman, founder and CEO of SolitAir, said the new markets would strengthen connections between the Gulf and African economies where reliable air cargo services are in demand. The move also builds on SolitAir’s growing presence in West Africa, with the carrier planning further expansion into Lagos, Nigeria, and Freetown, Sierra Leone. SolitAir currently operates seven Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, each capable of carrying up to 20 tonnes. Operating from its Dubai World Central hub, the airline is targeting a fleet of 20 freighter aircraft by the end of 2027 as it responds to rising demand along international trade corridors. For shippers and logistics providers, the Nigeria and Somaliland additions could offer additional middle-mile air freight capacity and more direct access to Gulf-linked supply chains, particularly for time-sensitive and high-value cargo. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport has commenced commercial operations, marking a major milestone for aviation, trade and logistics connectivity in North Andhra Pradesh. Developed and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), the new airport is positioned to strengthen the region’s role as the “Gateway of the East” and support its integration with domestic and international markets. The airport’s first day of commercial operations featured a series of milestone flights connecting Visakhapatnam with destinations across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The inaugural services included IndiGo flights between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, marking the first flight of the day, while IndiGo’s Abu Dhabi-Visakhapatnam service represented the first Indian carrier international flight. Scoot’s Singapore-Visakhapatnam service marked the first international carrier operation. The first arrivals of Air India Express, Air India, IndiGo, Scoot and India One were welcomed with ceremonial water cannon salutes. With 52 planned air traffic movements (ATMs) on Day One, the airport began operations with significant activity across passenger and airline services. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu joined senior dignitaries and airport stakeholders to mark the commencement. During the celebrations, he handed over boarding passes to passengers on the inaugural IndiGo and Air India Express flights and presented commemorative mementoes. For the supply chain and logistics sector, the airport’s infrastructure could become an important enabler of regional connectivity and cargo movement. Its 3,800-metre Code 4E runway is designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft, providing scope for future expansion of international services and air cargo operations. The facility is also expected to support trade, tourism, investment and employment across North Andhra Pradesh. Kanwarbir Singh Kalra, CEO of GVIAL, described the commencement as a transformational moment for the region, highlighting the years of planning, engineering, regulatory compliance and operational preparation behind the project. He said the airport would work to expand connectivity while providing a safe and seamless travel experience. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, 2026, the airport has an initial annual passenger capacity of 6 million. Its master plan provides for phased expansion to more than 40 million passengers per annum. With its combination of passenger infrastructure, wide-body aircraft capability and planned air cargo development, Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is set to play a larger role in Andhra Pradesh’s emerging aviation and logistics ecosystem, strengthening connections between the eastern seaboard, national markets and international trade corridors. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
