GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Aircraft Handling
Efficient aircraft handling is what keeps airline schedules from unravelling: it encompasses all ground services required to turn an aircraft around between flights, including cargo and baggage loading and unloading, refuelling, towing to gates or remote stands, cabin and exterior cleaning, catering, technical pre-departure checks, and passenger boarding and disembarkation.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_handling
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Efficient aircraft handling is what keeps airline schedules from unravelling: it encompasses all ground services required to turn an aircraft around between flights, including cargo and baggage loading and unloading, refuelling, towing to gates or remote stands, cabin and exterior cleaning, catering, technical pre-departure checks, and passenger boarding and disembarkation. On short-haul routes, entire turnaround cycles must often be completed in under an hour, making tight coordination between ground crews critical. Airlines either manage these operations in-house or contract specialist ground handlers, who typically serve multiple carriers at the same airport simultaneously. Aircraft handling is distinct from air cargo handling, which focuses on freight acceptance, customs clearance, and documentation rather than on servicing the aircraft itself.
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