Short answer: ground handling is the fastest way into airport work. It needs no degree and no previous experience. With 3 to 6 months of training aligned with IATA standards, you can start at check-in, at the gate or on the ramp, and move into supervision.
What is ground handling?
Everything that happens to an aircraft and its passengers between landing and the next take-off. It covers check-in and boarding, baggage, cargo, refuelling, towing and load control. In the EU, more than 300,000 people do this work every day, according to EASA.
What roles are there for beginners?
| Area | What it involves | Example tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in and boarding | Looks after passengers from the desk to the gate | Documents, baggage, boarding, passengers with reduced mobility |
| Ramp | Works beside the aircraft during the turnaround | Hold loading, hand signals, ground support equipment, towing |
| Load control | Calculates weight and balance | Load sheet, baggage and cargo distribution |
| Turnaround coordination | Makes sure the turnaround finishes on time | Link between teams, crew and the OCC |
Do I need experience or an university degree?
No. IATA confirms that no degree is needed to enter ground operations. Many supervisors started on the ramp.
The path IATA describes runs from the ramp to ramp supervisor or turnaround coordinator, then ramp manager and finally station manager. To become a supervisor, IATA points to at least 12 months on the ramp or in the baggage hall, plus a driving licence.
Why does prior training matter?
For two reasons: time and safety.
Time. In 2022, European airports and ground handlers explained that up to 16 weeks could pass between hiring someone and putting them to work, because of training and security vetting. Arriving already trained shortens that wait.
Safety. In 2025, IATA recorded more than 29,000 ground damage events and about 38,000 aircraft loading errors. IATA estimates the annual cost of ground damage could double to nearly US$10 billion by 2035 if nothing changes.
What is IGOM and why does it appear in job ads?
IGOM (IATA Ground Operations Manual) is IATA’s manual of minimum procedures for frontline staff. It covers passenger handling, baggage, ramp safety, turnaround and load control.
In 2025, 582 organisations reported their IGOM adoption to IATA. ISAGO, IATA’s safety audit for ground handlers, accredited 441 stations at more than 250 airports. Learning IGOM means learning the procedures that audited companies use.
What do the new European rules change?
For the first time, ground handling has its own EU safety rules. Regulations (EU) 2025/20 and 2025/23 entered into force on 27 March 2025 and apply from 27 March 2028.
Companies must have a safety management system, an equipment maintenance programme and training with competence assessment for staff. From 2028, documented training becomes a legal requirement.
What is happening with handling at Portuguese airports?
The baggage, cargo and ramp handling licences at Lisbon, Porto and Faro have been out to tender since 2025. The Clece/South consortium came first but was excluded by ANAC in July 2026 for failing to show it could mobilise the necessary resources. ANAC then invited Menzies, which came second.
The current licences expire on 25 October 2026. A decree published on 1 October allows them to be extended for up to two years.
For job seekers, the lesson is simple: at Portuguese airports, having trained people available counts as much as winning the contract.
And when systems fail?
In September 2025, a ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace’s MUSE check-in system stopped desks at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin. Staff checked passengers in and wrote boarding passes by hand. In Brussels alone, airlines were asked to cancel about 140 of 276 departures in a single day.
Knowing the manual procedures is still part of the job.
How does IITA's Ground Handling Operations ‘Job Ready’ programme work?
No experience is required. The programme follows IATA’s IGOM and includes dangerous goods awareness (IATA DGR). On completion, students are ready to work as a Ground Handling Operations Professional.
| Variant | Duration | Internship | Price (VAT included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Handling Operations 'Job Ready' — Ramp module | 4 months | 1 month | €1,550 |
| Ground Handling Operations 'Job Ready' — Check-in module | About 3 months (150 h) | 1 month | €1,350 |
| Ground Handling Operations 'Job Ready' — Full programme (Ramp + Check-in) | 6 months | 1 month | €2,850 |
The programme is online, with live classes led by an instructor, after working hours. The Full programme costs less than the two modules taken separately. All prices include VAT at the current rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age to work at an airport?
Usually 18, because of shift work and access to restricted areas. Check with each employer.
Do I need a driving licence?
Not to start at check-in. To become a ramp supervisor, IATA lists a driving licence as a requirement.
Is it shift work?
Yes. Airports run every day, with early, night and weekend shifts.
Ramp or Check-in: which should I choose?
Check-in if you prefer customer service. Ramp if you prefer physical work beside the aircraft. The Full programme gives you both.
Sources
- EASA, new ground handling rules, 7 March 2025; ground handling regulations
- IATA, Ground Operations Standards and IGOM
- IATA, 38th Ground Handling Conference: 2025 data, 19 May 2026
- IATA, Ground Damage Report
- IATA, What it takes to become a ramp supervisor, 26 November 2025
- ACI Europe and ASA, statement on staffing challenges, 6 May 2022
- Observador, ANAC invites Menzies to proceed, 21 July 2026
- CNN Portugal/Lusa, Government extends handling licences, 1 October 2026
- TechCrunch, ENISA confirms ransomware, 22 September 2025; AP via 1News, flight disruption, 22 September 2025
