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SWISSPORT SCALES UP IN SAUDI ARABIA WITH GROUNDBREAKING 13-AIRPORT LAUNCH
Rashad Iskandrni
Marking one of its
largest coordinated go-lives in recent years, Swissport has expanded operations
to 13 airports across Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its strategic growth in the
Middle East and strengthening its alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 2 June 2025 – Swissport, the world’s leading provider of airport ground services and
air cargo handling, has launched coordinated ground handling operations across
the Kingdom on June 1, welcoming inaugural flights from Air Arabia with
celebration events at each location. The new stations—Hail, Al Jouf, Tabuk,
Yanbu, Taif, Abha, and Jizan—join Swissport’s existing network of six airports:
Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, Dammam, Al-Qassim, and Al-Ula. This milestone also
marks the beginning of a new collaboration with Air Arabia, one of the region’s
leading low-cost carriers. The execution of such a marvellous expansion plan in
such a short span of time is attributed to the successful conclusion and signing
of the ground handling agreement with Air Arabia that operates to all these
airports.
"This launch marks a critical step in Swissport Saudi Arabia’s
growth strategy, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030. Expanding
our ground operations to 13 airports reflects both our long-term commitment to
the Kingdom and our readiness to deliver operational excellence at scale,"
says Dirk Goovaerts, CEO of Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa &
India, and Global Cargo Chair at Swissport. "Our investments in
innovation, sustainability, and talent are clear signals of our continued focus
on safety, reliability, and world-class service. Together with our trusted
partners, we are proud to be shaping the future of aviation in the
region."
After having received the license
from the authorities on 24 April 2025 for the opening of these airports, it was
a great deal of challenge to be ready for the delivery of quality services to
the client on 01 June 2025. It included successfully completing the training
process of 400+ staff in addition to transporting the fleet of heavy GSE to remotely
scattered apart airports. In less than merely a forty (40) days of time span, the
target was effectively achieved. The entire team at Swissport KSA worked
tirelessly and meticulously under the professional and devoted leadership of
its CEO Mr. Hamad Alhemede together with the effective support of Swissport global
and ensured all the seven newly added locations were fully equipped and
operationally ready ahead of schedule. This included setting up infrastructure,
recruitment and training of local staff, and the deployment of Swissport’s
proven global processes and standards.
Swissport’s on-time performance in the Kingdom consistently exceeds 99%—the highest in the country and among the best across its global network. This outstanding performance reflects Swissport’s operational discipline and its commitment to delivering punctual, high-quality service for airline partners. The dedication, hard work and the passion are the driving force behind the management of SP KSA and its team in achieving such an exciting result in OTP.
"This is a proud moment for our teams across the Kingdom. Our
expansion to 13 airports was made possible thanks to the dedication of our
local talent and the strength of our Swissport training programs," says
Hamad Alhemede, CEO of Swissport Saudi Arabia. "Our operations are locally
led and supported by global experts and international best practices. Together,
we are building a future-ready operation that reflects the highest standards of
safety, efficiency, and service."
Swissport’s continued expansion is further supported by its strategic
partnership with Asyad Holding Group and its close collaboration with key
stakeholders, including GACA, Matarat, and the Air Connectivity Program. With
operations now live across 13 airports, Swissport is exploring the introduction
of additional services—such as cargo handling, aircraft cleaning, and lounge
operations—to offer a comprehensive ground service solution for airline
partners. As demand in Saudi Arabia’s aviation market accelerates, Swissport is
well positioned to support this growth with a scalable, safe, and reliable
operation.
In 2024, Swissport International AG provided best-in-class airport
ground services for some 247 million airline passengers (2023: 232 million) and
handled roughly 5 million tons of air freight (2023: 4.7 million) at 117 air
cargo centers worldwide. Several of its warehouses have been certified for
pharmaceutical logistics by IATA’s CEIV Pharma and by the British MHRA. At the
end of December 2024, the world's leader in airport ground services and air
cargo handling, with currently around 62,000 employees, was active at 276
airports in 45 countries on six continents.