It follows the signing of agreements between Flughafen and Swissport earlier this year.
The new joint venture between the two partners started operations on 17 August and will operate under the name of Swissport DUS Cargo Services.
“To complement its strong organic growth, Swissport is pursuing an ambitious M&A agenda that includes being an active consolidator in the aviation services industry as well as entering into partnerships and joint ventures globally,” says Pablo von Siebenthal, Swissport’s Global Head of Mergers & Acquisitions.
Swissport has been driving consolidation since 1996, with traditional take-overs such as Aerocare with operations at 35 airports in Australia and the recent acquisition of Alitalia's ground handling unit at Rome-Fiumicino Airport in Italy in 2022.
“The start of our joint operations in Düsseldorf is a moment of joy for Swissport Germany,” says Bruno Stefani, Swissport’s CEO for Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. “It shows our commitment to the German market and solidifies our position in Düsseldorf and across Germany and sets the stage of further growth. Across Germany, Swissport supports airlines from all over the world with a wide range of services including ground services, cargo handling and aviation fuelling.”