EU Regulation Correction on Airport Handling: What Air Operators Must Review

Key data

Aircraft operators and ground assistance companies operating at European airports must update their reading of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/24. The European Commission published on 27 July 2026 a correction of errors that remedies technical and drafting inaccuracies in that regulation, which in turn amended Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 on air operations.

The correction does not add new direct economic burdens, but it has an immediate practical consequence: the corrected version is the applicable standard, and any internal procedure based on the previous wording may be misaligned with applicable legal requirements.

What does this regulation establish?

The Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 is the reference standard in the EU for air operations. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/24, published on 7 March 2025, amended it specifically regarding requirements applicable to aircraft operators in relation to ground assistance activities.

The handling or ground assistance activities that fall within the scope of this regulation include:

• Loading and unloading of aircraft
• Fuel supply
• Passenger assistance at airport
• Other support services on airport apron

The correction of errors published on 27 July 2026 remedies technical or drafting inaccuracies detected in the text of Regulation 2025/24. Its objective is to ensure the correct application of operational safety standards in European civil aviation.

Economic and operational impact

This correction of errors does not introduce new fees, penalties or direct economic amounts. Its impact is operational and regulatory compliance in nature.

The real risk for affected companies is as follows: if internal procedures, operations manuals or service contracts were drafted using the original text of Regulation 2025/24 — with the errors now being corrected — those documents may contain incorrect or incomplete requirements. This may result in:

• Misalignment with operational safety standards required by current European regulations.
• Risk in audits and supervision by national civil aviation authorities (in Spain, AESA — Spanish Civil Aviation Safety Agency).
• Need to update internal documentation: operations manuals, handling procedures, contracts with ground service providers.

The operational cost of adaptation will depend on the volume of internal documentation that each operator has generated based on the original text of Regulation 2025/24, but in no case does the correction impose new regulatory economic burdens.

Who does it affect?

• Aircraft operators based or operating at EU airports (airlines, commercial and non-commercial aviation operators).
• Airport handling companies that provide ground assistance services: loading/unloading, fuel supply, passenger assistance on apron.
• Regulatory compliance and operational safety managers (Safety Managers, Compliance Monitoring Managers) of the above organizations.
• Legal advisors and aviation consultants who support air operators on regulatory matters.
• Airport managers who supervise handling activities at their facilities.

Practical example

A low-cost airline with operations at several Spanish airports updated in March 2025 its Ground Operations Manual to reflect the new requirements of Regulation 2025/24. That manual includes, among other aspects, procedures for loading and unloading aircraft and fuel supply protocols.

Following the publication of the correction of errors on 27 July 2026, the airline's operational safety manager must compare the corrected text with the original text that served as the basis for drafting the manual. If any of the handling requirements was transcribed with the erroneous wording, the manual must be updated before the next audit by the competent authority. Failure to do so could expose the company to observations or non-conformities in the supervision process.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the corrected version of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/24 from the EU Official Journal, available from 27 July 2026.
2. Identify which errors have been corrected by comparing the original text (OJ L, 2025/24, 7.3.2025) with the corrected version, paying special attention to loading/unloading, fuel supply and passenger assistance requirements.
3. Review internal documentation (operations manuals, handling procedures, work instructions) to detect if any section is based on the erroneous wording.
4. Update affected documents and record the change with traceability, in view of possible audits by the national civil aviation authority.
5. Inform operational teams (handling personnel, apron supervisors) about any changes in procedures resulting from the correction.
6. Consult with specialized aviation regulation advisors if the magnitude of detected changes affects critical aspects of operational safety.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690628