Swissport Wins Ground Handling License at Frankfurt Airport

In a competitive international tender process, Swissport secured a license to provide ground handling services at Frankfurt Airport. Set to start Feb. 1, 2025, the new license will run for seven years until January 2032. The company will now initiate the preparations already scheduled for the Frankfurt start-up to ensure a smooth launch. Frankfurt will become Swissport's largest site in Germany and one of its most important operations in Europe. Already today, Swissport provides airport ground handling, air cargo handling and fueling services at 15 airports in Germany, and at almost 300 airports worldwide. 

"The license win is an important milestone for Swissport, and we look forward to serving airlines at Frankfurt Airport. Swissport is a leader in managing large complex airport operations, and Frankfurt further adds scale to our business,” says Warwick Brady, president and CEO of Swissport International AG. “We will continue to provide a competitive advantage for our airline customers by consistently delivering operational excellence to drive performance and service excellence to positively influence passengers’ experience. And we are keen to enable a smooth transition, ensuring job stability for the employees of the current ground handler and continued high quality service." 

Next to ensuring consistent, high-quality service to customers, reaching its ambitious ESG targets is one of Swissport’s top priorities. The company has committed to operating 55 percent of its fleet electrically by 2032 and to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050. Swissport plans to deploy state-of-the-art electric ground support equipment in Frankfurt, complementing the plans of airport operator Fraport to abolish all carbon emissions at fully consolidated airports they operate globally by 2045.

Swissport has been operational at Frankfurt Airport with its cargo handling unit since 1995. In November 2020, the company opened a new state-of-the-art air cargo warehouse including a modern pharma center at Cargo City Süd. Swissport Cargo in Frankfurt handled 135,000 tons of freight and employed 180 staff in 2023.

Additionally, Swissport’s subsidiary N*ICE has been offering de-icing services in Frankfurt since 1999 and subsidiary AFS fueling services in Frankfurt since 1988. N*ICE employed 47 and AFS employed 78 staff at Frankfurt Airport in 2023.