The Digital Ramp Takes Shape: State of the Ground Support Industry in 2026

Ground operations are moving into a more disciplined phase of modernization as aviation enters 2026. After years of disruption, pilot programs, and accelerated innovation cycles, industry stakeholders are increasingly focused on what can be deployed at scale, reliably, safely, and within real-world constraints.

Electrification, automation, and digitalization are no longer emerging concepts. They are actively reshaping ramp operations. Yet progress is uneven. Infrastructure readiness, workforce realities, supply chain volatility, and cost pressures continue to influence how quickly technology can be translated into operational gains.

Against this backdrop, manufacturers, ground handlers, airports, and airlines are recalibrating expectations. The conversation is expanding from what is technically possible to what is operationally deliverable.

Supply chain volatility persists, even as demand remains strong

Manufacturers continue to navigate an uncertain global trade environment heading into 2026. Inflationary pressure, tariff uncertainty, and geopolitical volatility remain persistent challenges, complicating long-term forecasting and procurement strategies across the GSE supply chain.

Jack Bermingham, Vice President and General Manager, Ground Support Equipment at Oshkosh AeroTech, said inflation and trade uncertainty continue to drive volatility across global supply chains, requiring manufacturers to remain nimble. He noted that Oshkosh AeroTech has implemented mitigation strategies focused on diversified inventory and supply chain flexibility to minimize disruption and maintain consistent delivery for customers.

“Our focus remains on building flexibility into our supply chain by using a proactive, diversified inventory strategy, minimizing disruptions and ensuring consistent delivery to our customers,” he said.

“We have a positive outlook for the future as external and industry data suggests growth in air cargo volumes and passenger travel. We are poised well to support that growth as we continue to invest in technology to advance the industry, as well as capacity to meet the potential demand.”

The tension created by strong demand paired with constrained supply environments is shaping procurement strategies across the industry. Operators are increasingly weighing lead times, lifecycle costs, and equipment reliability alongside traditional acquisition considerations.

Technology is the foundation of ramp performance

Technology is no longer viewed as an optional enhancement across ground operations. Telematics, intelligent data platforms, and AI-enabled systems are becoming baseline tools for managing safety, uptime, and total cost of ownership.

At Textron GSE, managing equipment performance through data is a growing priority. According to Morgan Gresens, Vice President and General Manager, Textron GSE, telematics is expected to continue to have one of the greatest impacts on ramp performance in 2026 by enabling preventive maintenance, improving safety outcomes, and supporting more accurate lifecycle cost calculations. Customers are increasingly using telematics data to optimize fleet size and hit target turn times without compromising safety.

Mercury GSE, which provides rental, leasing, sales and support for ground support equipment, is seeing similar trends across its customer base. Joe Davis, VP of Customer Experience, said telematics has evolved from a passive reporting tool into a mechanism for accountability.

“Airlines, cargo operators, and ground handlers are demanding actionable insights,” Davis said, “especially predictive maintenance that can help reduce downtime, manage parts shortages, and prevent major failures before they impact operations.”

Manufacturers are also emphasizing the role of intelligent insights in guiding broader operational decisions. Bermingham said data-driven visibility across maintenance, utilization, and labor is becoming critical as fleets grow more complex and diversified.

Safety, data, and standardization gain urgency

The industry’s growing reliance on data aligns with broader safety priorities emerging at the global level. According to IATA, ground support equipment operations account for up to 40% of total global aircraft ground damage, underscoring the critical role of ramp safety in overall operational risk.

IATA has responded by strengthening its Ground Damage Reduction Strategy, including the promotion of enhanced GSE equipped with proximity sensors and anti-collision systems. In 2024, IATA introduced its Enhanced GSE Recognition Program to incentivize adoption. From April 2025, GSE fleet declarations will be mandatory at all ISAGO stations, further reinforcing data-driven oversight.

These efforts reflect a broader push toward standardization. In 2024, ISAGO recorded a record 400 station accreditations, with measurable financial benefits for both airlines and ground service providers. IATA estimates these improvements delivered combined savings of more than USD 8 million in audit-related efficiencies during the year.

What ‘digital’ looks like in daily ramp operations

Airlines are beginning to apply these principles directly on the ramp. Alaska Airlines’ deployment of AI-driven driver coaching technology offers a tangible example of how data can be translated into safer, more consistent operations.

Following a successful rollout in Seattle, Alaska Airlines is expanding the use of Samsara’s  system across its network. “By the end of 2026, every drivable piece of Alaska-owned GSE across our network will be equipped with this technology,” said Mehdi Jnah, Director of Ground Support Equipment, Alaska Airlines.

For Jnah, the initiative represents the early stages of what he describes as a “digital ramp.” AI-driven dashboards analyze equipment movement and operator behavior in near real time, providing feedback that supports safer practices without punitive oversight. “It’s like having a safety analyst built into the system,” he said.

The technology is also informing operational and sustainability decisions. By identifying high fuel-consuming units and usage patterns, Alaska Airlines can prioritize which equipment to replace with electric alternatives, linking safety analytics directly to decarbonization goals.

David Over, Managing Director of Station Operations Support for Alaska Airlines, emphasized that the program reflects a broader cultural commitment. “Safety innovation is in our DNA,” he said. “Whenever there’s a way to use technology to make things safer or better for our people, we pursue it.”

Automation expands as workforce pressures continue

Automation is accelerating across ramp operations, driven in large part by workforce realities. As experienced mechanics and operators retire, many organizations are struggling to replenish skilled labor pools for physically demanding roles.

“The pipeline of younger workers is increasingly focused on technology-centric roles rather than hands-on mechanical trades,” Davis at Mercury GSE said. “To maintain operational consistency, many companies are turning to automation to support day-to-day activities that were historically manual.”

Examples include automated passenger-assistance and baggage-handling applications that reduce physical strain while improving consistency and predictability.

“Airports like Detroit Metro are using robotic wheelchair systems to transport passengers between gates, while others are deploying autonomous vehicles to move luggage and equipment across the airfield,” he noted. “These technologies reduce strain on labor while improving consistency and turnaround times.”

Swissport is advancing automation at scale. The company is conducting live autonomous baggage movement trials in Zurich, enabling end-to-end transport from terminal to aircraft. These efforts are supported by an integrated digital ecosystem that combines telematics, AI-driven document verification, real-time tasking, and standardized operating procedures.

“By uniting autonomy trials, telematics and in-house digital platforms into one operating model, Swissport is converting technology into measurable gains in safety, on-time performance and efficiency, while enhancing workforce capability and delivering additional value for our airline partners,” the company stated.

Electrification advances, but infrastructure defines the pace

Electrification remains a central pillar of GSE strategy across the industry, though adoption rates vary widely. While equipment technology has matured rapidly, infrastructure development continues to lag at many airports.

“The industry must continue to prioritize infrastructure improvements at airports to support the new generation of ground support equipment,” Gresens stated. “Electrified, telematics and AI-enabled equipment is here, and these advancements have great potential to transform the way that airlines, air cargo carriers and ground handlers operate. But without infrastructure upgrades - and a willingness to rethink ramp operations and GSE fleet management practices - our industry won’t realize the full measure of enhancements to safety, efficiency and productivity that these technologies bring.”

Davis at Mercury GSE echoed that assessment, emphasizing that infrastructure readiness is now the primary gating factor for fleet transitions.

“The continued transition toward electrification on the airfield is critical,” he said. “While equipment technology is advancing quickly, infrastructure has lagged behind. As charging and power infrastructure continues to improve, more operators will be positioned to make the shift to electric fleets, supporting sustainability goals while also improving long-term operating efficiency.”

IATA estimates that electrifying GSE can reduce emissions by 35% to 52% per turnaround. A European study commissioned by IATA found electric GSE produce approximately 48% less CO₂ than internal combustion equipment under comparable operating conditions, with noise reductions of up to 8 dB.

To bridge infrastructure gaps, manufacturers are offering flexible solutions. Oshkosh AeroTech highlighted mobile charging platforms and load-sharing technologies that allow electric equipment to operate without reliance on fixed charging installations.

At the same time, many operators are rethinking whether electrification must be pursued solely through individual fleets at the airline or handler level. One alternative gaining attention is equipment pooling, a model in which multiple operators share access to a common fleet of GSE managed at the airport or terminal level. Pooling is designed to reduce redundant equipment, improve utilization, ease congestion, and simplify the transition to standardized, lower-emissions fleets.

Pooling emerges as a practical model for modernized ramp operations

At New York JFK’s Terminal 6, electrification, infrastructure planning, and pooling converge in a single operational model. When the first gates open this year, T6 will operate the first pooled, all-electric GSE fleet at a North American terminal.

Rather than individual airlines and ground handlers deploying separate fleets, all operators at T6 will draw from a centralized pool of electric equipment owned and managed by Fortbrand Services. The model is designed to reduce congestion, eliminate redundancy, and streamline safety and maintenance.

“This initiative is a game changer,” said Steve Thody, CEO of JFK Millennium Partners. “Pooling ground service equipment and making it fully electric brings together safety, efficiency, and sustainability in a way that hasn’t been done before in the U.S.”

The model aligns closely with IATA’s view that GSE pooling can optimize fleet utilization, simplify training, reduce spare parts complexity, and accelerate transitions to cleaner energy sources. By integrating charging infrastructure from the outset, T6 avoids many of the retrofit challenges faced by legacy terminals.

“The eyes of the industry are on us,” Thody said. “Our responsibility is to show that pooling electric GSE works, that it’s safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.”

Reliability and uptime define efficiency gains

As cost pressures persist, efficiency gains are increasingly defined by reliability rather than speed alone. Maximizing GSE uptime, ensuring parts availability, and improving maintenance predictability remain top priorities.

Textron GSE reported that customers are focused on doing more with existing assets while maintaining safety standards. Equipment reliability and service support are central to that effort, particularly as operators use telematics to right-size fleets.

Mercury GSE is seeing early improvements as manufacturers refine designs and production standards that were strained during the post-pandemic recovery. Davis said these refinements should deliver incremental efficiency gains, although rising equipment costs and lead times will continue to apply pressure in the near term.

Priorities for the next 12–18 months

Looking ahead, several priorities are emerging across the industry.

Infrastructure investment to support electrified, connected fleets is a priority. Without upgrades to power availability, charging readiness, and stand planning, the full benefits of modern equipment will be difficult to realize.

“Electrified equipment is an expectation that we, as a GSE manufacturer, are able to meet,” said Gresens. “At many airports, however, the availability of chargers in necessary locations continues to create an issue for ground support operators. Airports have to prioritize solving this problem.”

Standardized, data-driven operations are also gaining urgency, particularly as safety expectations rise and operators seek to reduce variability across stations. Swissport emphasized the importance of deploying solutions that integrate seamlessly into live environments, delivering measurable improvements in safety, reliability, and customer value.

Finally, technology is increasingly being positioned as a workforce multiplier.

“People are at the heart of Swissport’s operations,” the company stated, noting that more than 25,000 employees train annually through Swissport Academy, supported by “hyper-real simulations and redesigned roles where automation supports frontline expertise.”

Bermingham too noted that fleet and labor decisions will be increasingly assisted by smart technology.

“We’re truly at an exciting point in the aviation industry with incredible technology, strong passenger and air cargo demand,” he said. “One important consideration for the industry to prioritize is the use of intelligent insights to help inform purchasing, fleet management, technology, maintenance and labor decisions. These insights can help promote efficiency, safety and overall productivity.”

Outlook for the coming year

As the industry moves further into 2026, optimism is tempered by realism. Demand remains strong, technology continues to advance, and operators are increasingly comfortable deploying digital and automated solutions at scale. At the same time, infrastructure constraints, labor shortages, and supply chain volatility continue to shape the pace of change.

The coming year is likely to reward organizations that align innovation with execution, pairing advanced technology with practical strategies that improve reliability, safety, and efficiency on the ramp. For ground operations, the focus is no longer on proving what is possible, but on delivering what works.