CELEBRATING AVIATION EXCELLENCE AROUND THE WORLD

The Pride of Ground Handling Awards 2025 is back, bigger and better than ever! Now in its eighth year, the awards will recognise excellence in ground services worldwide with the introduction of five exciting new categories.

These awards showcase stations that go extra mile to deliver added value services to airline customers and hit back against the myth that ground handling is simply a race to the bottom on price.

It is also an opportunity to champion the men and women who exemplify a commitment to quality, safety, teamwork, and innovation on the apron – as well as attracting new talent into a career in ground handling.

There are 10 award categories up for grabs this year: Best Station, Ramp Safety, Unsung Hero, Rising Star (under 30), Lifetime Achievement, GSE Product of the Year, GSE Manufacturer of the Year, Cargo Handler of the Year, Digital Innovation and Industry Leader. Entries are welcome from all geographical regions.

Entry involves completing a detailed questionnaire, with qualifying entries judged by a panel of aviation industry experts. Our winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at GHI’s 26th Annual Conference in Amsterdam on Monday 10 November 2025.

If you are proud of your station teams and their achievements, GHI would love to hear from you!


Samantha Payne Polepaka
Editor


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ENTER AWARDS
Entry deadline: 5th September 2025

HOW TO ENTER

You can submit your entry online using the online entry system. You will need to register first and then choose the categories you wish to enter. Once you have completed the work on your entries, you can submit them all at once.

The online entry system allows you to start an entry, save it, and complete it later.

Entry is FREE

Deadline for entry - Friday 5th September 2025 (23:55)

Please ensure you are entering the correct category, refer to the entry description if you are unsure. Please ensure you place the main component of your entry within the web form provided and include all the information requested in each section.

Including supporting material is encouraged but it should not comprise the main component of your entry.

Please ensure you upload a high resolution company logo to accompany your entry.

Your entry will be judged based on the information you submit in the main entry form.

You may submit additional supporting information but this should be to enhance your entry and not replace the content of the entry form itself.

Whilst supporting material is important and helpful to the judges, we ask that you keep these documents to a reasonable number.

Multiple entries are allowed across the awards where applicable (please read category descriptions)

Sponsors may not enter the category that they are sponsoring

All entries must completed within the entry web form provided

Any access passwords or details required as part of entry judging must be clearly supplied in time for the close of call for entries

We appreciate that some entry information will be sensitive, all business information submitted will be in strict confidence

The Judges’ decision is FINAL. No discussions on recounts or requests for justification will be entered into

TESTIMONIALS

Winning the Pride of Ground Handling Sustainability Award was a real boost to our hard-working team, who have been devising and implementing many highly-effective environmental measures over recent years. Hactl cares deeply about the environment, and all our policies and actions are now shaped by careful consideration of their environmental impact. This focus would not be possible without the constant efforts of our sustainability team,
who rarely receive external recognition. This award is a welcome endorsement of all the hard work we are doing at Hactl to protect the environment, and we are grateful that Ground Handling International
has included this important aspect of handling in its awards scheme.

Wilson Kwong Chief Executive Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), Sustainability Award Winner 2021

Winning the Pride of Ground Handling Award is a life achievement, as it has given me courage and motivation to continue working. I have earned a lot of respect from colleagues that some people now call me
‘International Man’ and my family we are proud to be recognised internationally.

Mutungi Amos Muhoozi, Ground Safety Equipment Operator National Aviation Services, Ramp Safety Award-winner 2019

From my point of view, the Pride of Ground Handling Awards has granted the chance to broadcast Aviapartner GRO as an point of attention to airlines and overall handlers and it has been an endorsement to individuals to be brave and believe that everything is achievable. As a result, they become prouder and improve self-esteem on how they conduct their job duties. I consider these awards an unique opportunity to self-motivate
and spur best performance for companies through their employees.

Gloria Martinez Station Manager AviaPartner Girona, Best Station Award 2019

Winning the Pride of Ground Handling Award has been a remarkable addition to Gerry’s dnata’s accolades. It has supported the propagation of our message to the world that success and recognition through persistence, resilience and hard work sees no boundaries. It is an honour for my team as well as for me to be able to garner such a position on an international platform that impeccably represents the global aviation industry.

Syed Haris Raza CEO Gerry’s dnata, Best Cargo Handling Operation Award 2019

A good beginning makes a good ending so it is important to recognise the ground handling excellence and support that cushions the travel journey. Those unsung heroes behind every good passenger experience. We were overwhelmed by the grace and persistence of our team, subject matter experts from different employment grades who have gone through so much tests and trials achieving this success today. Winning the GHI award has certainly given a word-class recognition to our good work; growing confidence with our stakeholders.

The Passenger Service Team SATS, Singapore, Best Airline-Handler Innovation Award 2019


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