Swissport has announced the acquisition of ViaEurope in a move to expand its e-commerce service offering.
The combination of ViaEurope with Swissport will create a single point of contact for shippers, cargo airlines and freight forwarders, while providing a comprehensive service offering across each step of the product journey from aircraft handling, warehousing, customs clearance, tracking and preparation for delivery, Swissport said.
This will allow the cargo handler to offer an expanded suite of services to its customers.
Swissport CEO Warwick Brady said: “ViaEurope has an industry-leading offering that provides global e-commerce players improved lead times and visibility.
“ViaEurope’s focus on efficiency and operational excellence aligns perfectly with Swissport’s ambition and DNA.
“It also provides us with a leading solution in the rapidly growing e-commerce logistics space.”
ViaEurope offers its services at five major airports in Europe: Amsterdam, Brussels, Budapest, Frankfurt and Liège.
Bram-Jan Streefland, CEO of ViaEurope, said: “Partnering with Swissport and its extensive network will allow us to offer our services more broadly.
“The combination of our expertise will offer customers an excellent level of service quality by minimising lead times and providing greater information transparency from aircraft touch down to delivery.”
According to industry analysts, the volume of cross-border e-commerce goods is expected to increase more than 50 per cent by 2027.
ViaEurope’s capabilities will allow Swissport to better serve its customers as the leading airport service provider globally, the company said.
ViaEurope is an end-to-end e-commerce handling company, specialising in advanced solutions for shippers, cargo airlines and freight forwarders. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.