Airports & customs

Ground handling

Ground handling covers the physical services an aircraft receives on the ramp: marshalling, towing, chocks, ground power, lavatory and water service, baggage loading, cleaning and de-icing, along with the passenger-facing services of the FBO or handling agent. On a charter invoice it appears as a per-visit fee, occasionally with separate line items for specific services, and costs vary hugely: a few hundred dollars at a US regional airport, several thousand at London Luton, Geneva or Dubai, and more where a full handling agent is compulsory. It is one of the fees most often omitted from headline quotes, so ask whether handling at all airports on your itinerary is included.

Related terms

All terms FAQ

Keep wondering