The verdict in three sentences
A ground handler at Dubai or London handling 30 flights a day, around 1,200 turnarounds a month, and billing airlines from paper sheets typically loses 3 to 6 % of revenue to services never billed or disputed. Ground operations software that records every service on a tablet, assigns staff and equipment, then generates invoices per airline contract removes most of that leakage. In Kolonell's custom application grid, allow 6,100 to 22,870+ EUR and 4 to 6 months.
From flight to invoice: where money disappears
Relations with each airline usually rest on the IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement, with Annex A listing services and Annex B setting local rates and conditions. The turnaround fee covers the base service, while everything else is charged per use: GPU, extra pushback, de-icing in London winters, PRM assistance, delay hours, cargo handling. These additional services are exactly what vanishes when the paper sheet is incomplete or unreadable.
| Step | Current state (paper) | Target with the software |
|---|---|---|
| Flight schedule | Spreadsheet received weekly | Live import of schedule and changes |
| Staff assignment | Whiteboard and radio calls | Rostering per flight, skills and rest rules |
| Equipment assignment | Duty manager's judgement | Availability of tugs, GPUs, steps and belt loaders |
| Service capture | Paper sheet signed by crew | Tablet checklist, timestamps and e-signature |
| Delays and incidents | Handwritten, rough IATA codes | IATA delay codes selected and timestamped |
| Invoicing | Monthly compilation in 8 to 10 days | Per-flight or monthly invoice in one day |
| Disputes | 5 to 10 % of invoices challenged | Signed proof attached to every line |
The numbers at a 30-flight station
Volumes and rates below are 2026 orders of magnitude, to adjust to your contracts.
| Indicator | Typical value | Expected effect of the software |
|---|---|---|
| Turnarounds per month | 1,200 | All traced in the tool |
| Base fee per narrowbody turnaround | USD 1,500 to 3,000 in Dubai, £1,200 to £2,500 in London | Applied automatically by aircraft type |
| Additional services | 10 to 20 % of revenue | Leakage cut from 3 to 6 % to under 1 % |
| Billing delay | 8 to 10 days after month end | 1 to 2 days |
| Airline payment delay | 45 to 75 days | Reduced by 15 to 20 days with undisputed invoices |
| Staff and equipment | 250 agents, 60 motorised units | Equipment utilisation measured |
Equipment deserves its own module: engine hours, preventive maintenance and downtime. A broken pushback tug on a peak day means delays charged against you.
Options and budget
International ground handling suites exist, robust but designed for hub operations, licensed annually. A custom application follows your contracts, your organisation and real airside connectivity, with offline mode on the apron.
| Option | Indicative cost | Timeline | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| International handling suite | Annual licences on vendor quote | 6 to 12 months | High recurring cost, heavy configuration |
| Billing module of an existing ERP | Integrator quote | 3 to 6 months | No field capture |
| Kolonell custom app, capture and billing | 6,100 to 10,670 EUR | 4 months | Contracts must be turned into rules |
| Kolonell custom app with rostering and equipment | 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR | 5 to 6 months | Schedule feed integration |
| Kolonell maintenance | 53 / 114 / 183 EUR per month | Ongoing | Premium for 24/7 operations |
On compliance, the tool keeps passenger data for assisted travellers to the minimum required under UK GDPR or the UAE data protection law, and retains proof of service for as long as your contracts and tax authorities require.
Mini case study
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James, head of operations for a handler at a London airport, processes 1,200 turnarounds a month at an average base fee of £1,800, so £2,160,000, plus 15 % additional services, £324,000. An audit shows 5 % of total revenue is never billed or ends up credited after disputes: 2,484,000 × 0.05 = £124,200 a month. If the software cuts leakage to 1 %, the gain is 2,484,000 × 0.04 = £99,360 a month. A complex build at around 20,000 EUR pays back within days of recovered revenue, before counting the 8 billing days saved each month.
FAQ
How much does ground handling software cost?
In Kolonell's grid, 6,100 to 10,670 EUR for field capture and billing, and 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR with rostering and equipment management. International suites are licensed annually and usually cost far more over five years.
Does it follow IATA SGHA contracts?
Yes, each airline's Annex B rates are configured, with per-aircraft turnaround fees and per-use services. A contract change flows into every subsequent invoice without re-keying.
What if the network drops on the apron?
Tablets work offline and sync when connection returns. A 30-flight station cannot depend on perfect coverage.
Do airlines accept crew e-signatures?
Most do, when the signature is timestamped and paired with a photo, which cuts disputes from 5 to 10 % to under 2 % of invoices.
How long to go live?
Allow 4 to 6 months, with a pilot on one or two airlines before rollout.
Let's scope your project. We will define tablet service capture, staff rostering and contract-based billing with you, starting with a pilot airline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
