The companies entered into binding agreements to acquire a 74.9% shareholding in Dusseldorf Airport’s cargo handling unit, Flughafen Dusseldorf Cargo in March this year, strengthening Swissport’s presence in the German cargo market.
The German Merger Control approved the agreement in May and the merger was concluded with the complete relocation to the airport-site warehouse in September.
Switching to the Cargo Spot cargo management system in November marked the operational merger as completed.
Swissport says joint ventures provide numerous benefits for all stakeholders including the expansion of services and customer portfolios, the consolidation of expertise and sharing resources.
For Swissport DUS Cargo Services, added advantages include the implementation of state-of-the-art technology in the warehouse and access to globally tested IT systems.
Bruno Stefani, Senior VP and CEO Region DACH, Italy and France at Swissport, says, “Joint ventures are excellent opportunities to elevate and strengthen one’s position in the market. They are easily scalable, making them an interesting strategic measure for various airport types. Leveraging Swissport's expansive global network and industry-leading operational processes, we are confident that Swissport is the ideal partner to embark on this journey and collectively advance our business.”
Lars Redeligx, CEO of Dusseldorf Airport says tonnage has increased 19%, saying: “These tonnage figures are a particular success under the conditions of the merger of the two companies in the joint venture. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Swissport DUS Cargo Services team for their commitment and willingness to change.”