Day 2 of our 3 Day series shifts focus to the bustling world of airside logistics and ground handling, where every minute on the tarmac counts. (In Day 1, we looked at strategic overviews of airport operations, while Day 3 will focus on the future of infrastructure and growth – ensuring each day covers distinct facets of aviation.)
Here on Day 2, we zero in on how airports and ground service providers are improving efficiency on the ramp and aprons. From the moment an aircraft touches down to the next take-off, a complex dance of vehicles, equipment, and personnel takes place.
Streamlining these ground handling processes isn’t just about saving time – it means lower costs, safer operations, and a better passenger experience. This update provides a humanized look at new initiatives supercharging airside logistics, especially in Southeast Asia, while drawing lessons from innovations around the world.
The High Stakes of Ground Handling Efficiency
Ground handling is often described as the make-or-break backbone of airport operations.
Why? Consider that ground handling expenses can account for about 8% of an airline’s operating costs, and as much as 50% of the total baggage handling costs. Every delay in refueling, every misrouted baggage cart, or a slow turnaround can ripple into flight delays and mounting expenses.
Airports are complex ecosystems, and nowhere is this more evident than on the airside, where dozens of activities – from marshaling aircraft to loading cargo – must sync up seamlessly. Traditionally, these tasks have relied on large teams of people using fleets of tugs, belt loaders, and carts. However, recent years have put this traditional model under strain.
One major challenge has been labour shortages, especially following the pandemic. Many airports and ground handling firms found themselves with fewer experienced hands-on deck just as travel demand rebounded. The result? A sharper imperative to do more with less – handling more flights and cargo with leaner crews, all while maintaining safety.
This has turned the spotlight on efficiency like never before. It’s not just about cutting costs; it’s about resilience. When ground operations run like clockwork, airlines avoid cascading delays, passengers make their connections, and airports can increase throughput without sacrificing quality.
Airport leaders also recognize that improving ground handling efficiency is intertwined with sustainability and safety goals. Fewer delays mean less fuel burn from idling jets (helping reduce emissions), and smoother processes mean fewer ramp incidents or last-minute hazards.
Importantly, discussions at industry forums have highlighted that boosting efficiency isn’t solely a tech upgrade – it requires better collaboration and information-sharing among all players on the apron. In short, the stakes are high: efficient airside logistics drive both operational success and customer satisfaction.
Automation on the Apron: Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics
One of the most exciting developments in airside logistics is the advent of autonomous vehicles and robotics to assist or even replace traditional ground support equipment. Imagine self-driving baggage tractors zipping between terminal and aircraft, or robot loaders handling heavy cargo – these are no longer sci-fi concepts but emerging reality.
Pioneering airports and companies have been trialing autonomous ground vehicles with promising results. For instance, Singapore’s Changi Airport has partnered with UK-based tech firm Aurrigo to test a fleet of Auto-DollyTug® autonomous baggage vehicles.
After years of prototype testing, Changi is now bringing in four of these electric, self-driving baggage carts for live trials in handling wide-body aircraft turnarounds. These smart carts can do things today’s standard tugs cannot – they boast 360-degree “tank-turn” maneuverability and even robotic arms to automatically load and unload luggage containers, all while nimbly fitting into tight spaces on the busy apron. The goal is to cut the time and manpower needed to service big jets, alleviate labour shortages, and improve safety by reducing human error.
Such autonomous ground vehicles aren’t limited to Singapore. Airports around the world are experimenting with driverless GSE (Ground Support Equipment). In Norway, operator Avinor has launched an innovation partnership to automate baggage handling at Oslo Airport, including a three-month live trial of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in late 2024.
The aims are ambitious: to increase baggage process efficiency, remove repetitive heavy lifting for staff, and modernize a part of operations that has remained unchanged for 50+ years. Likewise, Japanese airports and airlines have explored autonomous towing: All Nippon Airways (ANA) ran trials of a self-driving baggage tug at Nagoya, and Kansai International Airport recently deployed an autonomous baggage tractor to speed up the interval between aircraft arrival and baggage delivery.
In the United States, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG) has tested self-driving vehicles to transport luggage and cargo between terminals and aircraft stands. These trials demonstrate improved coordination and reliability – an autonomous tug doesn’t need breaks and can operate in tight schedules with precision, theoretically reducing the aircraft turnaround time.
Early adopters report encouraging outcomes. Some airports have achieved Level 4 autonomy in baggage hauling, meaning the vehicles operate with minimal human oversight in a live environment. As a result, the benefits envisioned – from higher safety to lower operating costs – are starting to materialize.
The technology has matured alongside a better understanding of how to integrate these robots safely among manned vehicles and workers. Industry experts observe that “autonomous tow tractor deployments are set to take off, paving the way for improved safety, higher efficiency and lower costs at airports around the world.” In other words, those futuristic baggage bots may soon graduate from pilot projects to everyday fixtures at airports.
Of course, automating the apron isn’t without challenges. It requires significant investment and trust in technology. One interesting hurdle is deciding who pays for these upgrades – airports or the ground handling companies?
Traditionally, ground handlers operate the tugs and loaders (often under airline contracts), so if an airport buys autonomous GSE, there needs to be a clear business model for all parties. Despite such complexities, the post-pandemic labour crunch has pushed stakeholders to find solutions collaboratively.
Manufacturers of GSE are also stepping up: established players like TLD and Goldhofer, and newer tech firms like Aurrigo or EasyMile, are offering ready-to-use autonomous or remote-controlled equipment. In fact, during the recent inter airport Southeast Asia 2025 expo in Singapore, a remote-controlled aircraft tug was showcased as a cutting-edge product to reduce aircraft pushback accidents and improve efficiency. The drive for automation clearly goes hand-in-hand with the drive for safer, more reliable operations.
Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® at Changi Airport in Singapore
Digital Coordination and Smart Systems
Upgrading hardware is only part of the efficiency equation – smarter coordination and data-driven decision-making are equally vital. Airports have been investing in digital platforms that connect all the players in real time, breaking down silos between air traffic control, airlines, ground crews, and airport operations centers.
A prime example of this is the implementation of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM). A-CDM is essentially a framework and set of tools that get everyone sharing the same real-time information about flight turnarounds – from the moment an aircraft is on approach, through unloading, servicing, boarding, to pushback.
By uniting the data from airlines, ground handlers, and controllers, A-CDM has proven to cut delays and boost on-time performance. For instance, European airports that adopted A-CDM saw ground delay program waits drop by ~15% in trials. Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) introduced A-CDM in early 2024 as a strategic move to enhance efficiency.
The airport reports that A-CDM is optimizing resource use, improving gate planning, and has “primarily benefited airlines by reducing runway waiting times, boosting customer satisfaction, and enhancing ground handling efficiency.” In short, digital coordination means flights aren’t waiting on a missing fuel truck or surprise last-minute baggage – the system ensures all parties are in sync, which cuts down idle times and congestion.
Another innovation in this realm is the emergence of Airport Operations Centres (APOC) or integrated control centers. These are like mission control for airports, where representatives from all departments sit together, monitoring a wall of screens that display everything from live flight data to the location of every tow tractor on the field.
Such centers use predictive software and AI to anticipate problems (say, an incoming thunderstorm or a gate conflict) and proactively adjust plans. By having a holistic overview, APOC teams can make quick decisions that keep things moving efficiently – for example, reallocating a ground crew to a priority flight or opening an alternate taxi route if congestion is building up.
Airports are also leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI analytics to refine ground operations. Many ground support vehicles and equipment are now equipped with IoT sensors, feeding data on their status and location to central systems. This enables what’s called predictive maintenance – maintenance crews can monitor equipment health in real time and fix issues before a tug breaks down on the apron. By analyzing patterns (through AI) such as engine temperatures or battery health, ground teams can schedule repairs during off-peak times, thus avoiding sudden equipment failures that could delay a flight. IoT tracking of GSE (Ground Support Equipment) also means an airline can always locate its needed equipment immediately; no more time lost searching for a stray conveyor loader when a plane is waiting to be serviced. These digital tools contribute to a more resilient and efficient ground handling operation, where decisions are based on data rather than frantic phone calls.
Data sharing and collaboration underpin these technological strides. As noted on Day 1, building trust and standard data practices between stakeholders is crucialen.acnnewswire.com. Industry leaders emphasize that technology alone won’t solve inefficiencies unless airlines, airports, and ground handlers are willing to work in unison, transparently sharing information for the greater good.
Encouragingly, this mindset is gaining ground. Southeast Asia’s airport community, for instance, has been actively discussing unified approaches – such as common digital platforms for turnaround status – to ensure everyone from the catering truck driver to the apron control manager has the same situational awareness.
When people, process, and technology all align, the payoff is significant: fewer surprises, faster turnarounds, and a smoother experience for passengers who likely never notice the choreography behind the scenes.
Innovative Initiatives and Partnerships Making a Difference
Beyond broad strategies, it’s worth highlighting some concrete initiatives in Southeast Asia and globally that are improving airside logistics in unique ways. Many of these haven’t been covered in our Day 1 or Day 3 discussions, underscoring how multi-faceted the push for efficiency has become. Here are a few standout examples and approaches,
- High-Speed Turnaround Teams: Ground handling companies are rethinking training and teamwork to speed up aircraft servicing. For example, Emirates Group (which includes ground handler dnata) recently launched a global talent drive to hire over 17,000 staff, including 4,000 for ground handling roles.
The aim is to ensure enough well-trained personnel to handle growth without delays. By cross-training staff to multitask – one person might handle both loading and basic cabin cleaning – and emphasizing safety culture, handlers can trim down turnaround times while maintaining standards. After the pandemic’s staffing crunch, this investment in human capital is a critical complement to tech solutions.
- Fast-Tracking Critical Repairs: In Singapore, SATS Ltd (a major ground handling provider) forged an innovative partnership with Sterling (part of Kuehne+Nagel) to expedite logistics for Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) situations.
When a plane is grounded waiting for a spare part, every hour counts. Under a trial at Singapore Changi and London Heathrow, SATS and Sterling combined forces to provide first-mile and last-mile airside delivery of critical aircraft components.
Leveraging Sterling’s specialty in urgent logistics and SATS’s on-ground visibility at the airport, they created a service that swiftly moves parts from the warehouse to the aircraft, complete with real-time tracking timestamps for all ground movements.
This means an airline that has an unexpected technical issue can get the needed part and fix done faster, returning the aircraft to service with minimal delay. As Sterling’s executive VP noted, the joint service “will expedite first- and last-mile support to shorten delivery windows and get aircraft back in service faster.”
This kind of cross-industry collaboration – a logistics firm and a ground handler – shows how breaking traditional boundaries can boost efficiency in niche but crucial areas.
- Electrification of Ground Equipment: A trend seen across many airports is the shift to electric Ground Support Equipment (eGSE) – from battery-powered baggage carts to electric pushback tugs. Aside from the clear environmental benefits (zero tailpipe emissions on the apron improve air quality and support carbon reduction goals), eGSE can also offer operational perks.
Electric motors often require less maintenance than diesel engines and can provide instant torque (useful for towing heavy jets). Airports in Southeast Asia are actively encouraging this transition. Mumbai International Airport in India, for instance, has installed high-capacity EV fast-charging stations on the airside to support a new fleet of electric baggage tractors and other vehicles.
They’ve deployed 60kW and even 240kW chargers dedicated to airside logistics equipment, ensuring that switching to electric doesn’t mean slower operations due to charging downtime. With its entire airport running on renewable energy, Mumbai can now charge electric ground vehicles with 100% green power, effectively eliminating CO2 emissions from those activities.
Other major hubs like Changi and Hong Kong are also phasing in electric baggage movers and catering trucks. While Day 1 covered sustainability in depth, the key point here is synergy: greener equipment can be more reliable and cheaper to run long-term, thereby enhancing efficiency (e.g., fewer refueling interruptions, less frequent repairs) even as they help meet climate targets.
- Smarter Baggage Handling and Loading: Baggage handling has long been a bottleneck – the moment bags leave the high-speed conveyor system and enter the “manual” realm of baggage carts and ULD (Unit Load Device) containers, things slow down. To address this, some airports and tech firms are introducing semi-automated loading systems.
For example, specialized robotic arms or lift assist devices (like the BEUMER autonomous baggage manipulator showcased in Europe) help ground crews by lifting heavy bags and placing them in containers in an optimized pattern. This not only speeds up the build-up of ULDs but also reduces injuries for staff.
In one trial, KLM at Amsterdam Schiphol tested an autonomous vehicle that ferries baggage for transfer passengers with long layovers, driving itself from the gate to a storage area so that connecting bags don’t clog up the handling system.
The result was less strain on the main baggage network and faster retrieval when those passengers’ onward flight was ready. All these innovations target the age-old challenge of “bags out, bags in” between flights – crucial minutes saved there improve the overall turnaround.
- Collaborative Equipment Hubs: A novel approach some airports are taking is creating shared GSE pools or hubs to avoid redundancy. Instead of each ground handler operating 50 of its own baggage carts that sometimes sit idle, the airport authority (or a consortium) maintains a pool of common equipment that any handler can draw from as needed.
This is being tried at a few European airports and discussed in Asia. The benefit is higher utilization – fewer total vehicles needed, but those vehicles are in constant productive use. It also standardizes quality and maintenance.
While this requires competitors in ground handling to cooperate (which can be tricky), it’s an idea that aligns with efficiency and sustainability (less equipment to buy and maintain overall). We’re likely to hear more about such resource-sharing models in the future as airports seek every possible efficiency gain.
It’s clear that innovation in ground handling is not one-size-fits-all – it spans technological, human, and procedural improvements. The common thread is thinking outside the box and learning from global best practices. Industry conferences now routinely feature sessions on “redefining efficiency, sustainability, and automation in ground handling and airport logistics”, reflecting how mainstream these conversations have become.
Southeast Asian airports, in particular, are keen on leap-frogging older practices and embracing cutting-edge solutions as they build new terminals and expand capacity. For example, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) – while planning a network of new airports through 2050 – is actively seeking partners with “cutting-edge technologies and advanced management models” to ensure their operations will be world-class from day one.
This kind of forward-looking approach means the next generation of airports could be designed for efficiency, with automation and digital integration baked into their blueprints, rather than retrofitted years later.
KLM and Schiphol trial autonomous vehicle to reduce baggage strain
Turning the Tarmac into a Well-Oiled Machine
Enhancing airside logistics and ground handling efficiency is often a game of margins and moments – saving a few minutes here, preventing an idle wait there – but those small gains aggregate into a big competitive edge for airports and airlines. The initiatives highlighted today demonstrate a growing recognition: whether through robots roaming the apron, algorithms coordinating schedules, or partnerships that break traditional molds, the industry is finding new ways to master the chaos of the tarmac. Improving ground handling efficiency is not just an operational tweak; it’s a strategic imperative for an industry under pressure to deliver seamless travel despite tight resource constraints and rising demand.
As we’ve seen, Southeast Asia is both contributing to and benefiting from these innovations – from Changi’s autonomous baggage vehicles to KLIA’s collaborative decision platform – often embracing change faster than more mature markets. Around the globe, what used to be cutting-edge (like autonomous tugs or AI prediction models) is quickly becoming the expected norm for leading airports.
Of course, challenges remain. Stakeholders must continue to invest wisely and cooperate openly. There is also a human element: the workforce must be upskilled to work alongside new technology, and fear of change must be managed through clear communication and training. The “humanized” side of this story is that many of these efficiency drives ultimately make the jobs of ground staff safer and less physically taxing, which is a win-win for morale and productivity.
In wrapping up Day 2, one cannot help but feel optimistic about the airside’s future. A flight’s journey on the ground – once a flurry of disconnected activities – is steadily becoming a coordinated, high-tech ballet. The promise for travelers is fewer delays and smoother baggage journeys; for airlines and airports, it’s better on-time performance and resource use. And for ground crews, it’s empowerment with better tools and working conditions.
In Day 3, we will turn our attention to another crucial aspect (without retracing Day 1 or 2 content): the broader horizon of aviation’s growth and what it means for infrastructure and innovation. Each piece of this trilogy stands on its own, but together they form a comprehensive panorama of an industry in transformation. By focusing today on ground handling efficiency, we’ve highlighted how the unsung heroes of the apron are leveraging new ideas to keep our skies moving safely and swiftly.
