AHM (Airport Handling Manual) — Airport Handling Manual

What the AHM Is

The IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM) is the industry's standard reference for how ground handling should be organized and performed at airports worldwide. It sets out IATA-approved policies and standards so an airline, ground handler, or airport can apply a consistent approach regardless of which carrier or handling agent is involved — important because most airlines rely on third-party or joint-venture ground handlers rather than handling every station themselves.

What It Covers

The manual is organized into chapters spanning the scope of ground operations, including:

AHM vs. IGOM

IATA distinguishes the AHM from the companion IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM): the AHM is policy-driven, defining what standard must be met, while the IGOM is procedure-driven, defining how to carry that standard out step by step on the ramp. Airlines and handlers typically use both together — the AHM as the governing standard, the IGOM as the operating procedure that satisfies it.

Why It Matters Industry-Wide

Because ground handling directly affects turnaround time, baggage accuracy, ramp safety, and how quickly airlines can recover from disruption, a shared reference like the AHM lets airlines negotiate service-level agreements with handlers against a common standard rather than each writing its own from scratch. Its message standards also keep departure, arrival, and irregularity data flowing consistently between airline, handler, and airport systems.

Governance and Updates

The AHM is published and periodically revised by IATA, with airlines, ground service providers, and airports able to submit change proposals through IATA's ground operations working groups.