Behind the scenes of JAL's ground handling: passing on the baton of excellence on the ground

A towing car guides the plane towards the runway

At the boarding gate, passengers check in their baggage and pass through security, and then they are escorted onto the aircraft. Another important job of ground handling staff is to assist passengers with disabilities and those who require assistance with boarding and disembarking.

Chikatani: "On departing flights, we will guide wheelchair users onto the aircraft."

Once all the passengers have boarded and the cargo has been loaded, the aircraft hatch is closed and we are ready to take off.

Kuwano: "Once the passenger boarding bridge is removed, it's back to work. We carefully visually check the exterior of the aircraft for any abnormalities, then begin the task of pushback. This involves towing the aircraft, connecting a large vehicle called a towing car, and pulling the plane to the designated position."

Towing cars are particularly large vehicles in restricted areas, and they play a vital role in pulling airplanes with passengers on board. They must be operated with the utmost care.

Kuwano: "Equipment sizes vary, driving methods differ for each model, and there are different qualifications required."

The staff waved goodbye, and even after takeoff, a new baton was passed on.

Passengers on board can watch the scenery slowly pass by outside the window. There they can see the ground handling staff lined up in a row waving. The ceremony marks the moment of accomplishment after the baton has been passed on.

But before they have time to rest, the next baton is passed on. The jobs we introduced here are just a part of it. JAL Ground Services, to which they belong, has about 2,000 ground handling staff and operates 32 types of aircraft, about 5,500 units.

They are the silent heroes who ensure a comfortable flight. Each has a different job area and fulfills their responsibilities to support JAL's services. On your next flight, why not think about this relay of the baton?

Ground handling job introduction video (Narita edition)

Ground handling job introduction video (Haneda edition)

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