Swissport International, a global leader in airport ground services and cargo handling, has officially launched operations as a new ground handler at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The company successfully began servicing early morning flights for KLM, Air France, and LOT at Terminals 1 and 2. Frankfurt is set to become Swissport’s largest site in Germany and a key hub in its European network.
“We are excited to bring our trusted ground handling services to Frankfurt Airport, a major global gateway,” said Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International. “Our commitment to quality, reliability, and safety has earned us the trust of German authorities and our airline partners. Despite unexpected challenges from a previous operator, we are here to stay and contribute to Frankfurt’s success.”
Swissport launched operations with a team of over 350 ground service professionals, with plans to expand staff each month to support new airline customers and peak travel periods. Recruiting will continue beyond summer as Swissport prepares to fully take over wide-body aircraft handling by October 31, 2025. Until then, a third-party provider will manage these flights under Fraport’s ground handling license.
In August 2024, Swissport won the Frankfurt ground handling license after a competitive tender involving six bidders. The seven-year license enables the company to provide a full range of ground services, including check-in, baggage handling, aircraft pushback, and cargo loading.
Swissport has operated at Frankfurt Airport since 1995 through its cargo handling unit. In 2020, it opened a state-of-the-art air cargo warehouse with a modern pharma center at Cargo City South. Its subsidiaries, N*ICE and AFS, have also provided de-icing and fueling services at FRA since 1999 and 1988, respectively.