swissport
{{Short description|Swiss aviation services company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023|cs1-dates=ly}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Swissport International Ltd.
| logo = Swissport logo.svg
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Warwick Brady (President & CEO)
| industry = Aviation
| services = {{ubl|class=nowrap
| Aircraft cleaning }}
| revenue = €2.99 billion (2018){{Cite press release |author= |title=Swissport 2018 Company Profile |url=https://www.swissport.com/en/media/files/company-publications/archive/company-profiles/2018-company-profile |publisher=Swissport International AG |access-date=2023-09-15}}
| owner = International group of investors
| num_employees = Around 57,000
| foundation = {{start date and age|1996|||df=yes}}
| location = Opfikon, Zürich, Switzerland
| locations = 296 airports
| homepage = {{URL|www.swissport.com}}
}}
Swissport International Ltd. is a Swiss aviation services company providing airport ground handling, lounge hospitality and cargo handling services. Its headquarters are located in Opfikon, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland.
In 2022, Swissport handled around 186 million passengers, 4.8 million tonnes of cargo, and over 3 million flights, on behalf of over 850 companies in the aviation sector. With around 57,000 personnel, Swissport operates at 296 locations in 44 countries.{{cite press release |author= |title=Swissport 2023 General Fact Sheet |url=https://www.swissport.com/en/media/files/company-publications/2023-swissport-general-fact-sheet |publisher=Swissport International AG |date=2023-08-01 |access-date=2023-09-15}}{{Cite web |last=AG |first=Swissport International |title=Swissport International AG - Network |url=https://www.swissport.com/en/network |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=www.swissport.com}} It provides multiple services to their customers which include passenger services (check-in and gate agents, lounge hospitality), security services, baggage services including ramp handling, fueling, executive aviation and air cargo handling. {{Cite web |last=AG |first=Swissport International |title=Our Services |url=https://www.swissport.com/en/our-services |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.swissport.com |language=en-GB}}
History
The company was founded in 1996 as Swissair Ground Services International, independent of the former Swissair. In the following years, the company expanded both through organic growth and through various acquisitions.{{Cite encyclopedia |last=Ingram |first=Frederick C. |editor-last=Grant |editor-first=Tina |encyclopedia=International Directory of Company Histories |title=Swissport International Ltd. |year=2005 |publisher=St. James Press |volume=70 |location=Detroit |isbn=1-55862-545-3 |oclc=367891286 |pages=310-312}} As part of the Swissair financial crisis, Swissport was first purchased by the British private equity firm Candover Investments and later sold in August 2005 to the Spanish construction company Ferrovial.{{Cite web |last=Goodley |first=Simon |title=Candover buys Swissair arm |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2752567/Candover-buys-Swissair-arm.html| date=9 February 2002 |access-date=22 August 2014 |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925004142/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2752567/Candover-buys-Swissair-arm.html |url-status=live}} In the meantime, the company had grown through various acquisitions. At the end of 2010, Ferrovial sold Swissport for €654 million to the French private equity firm PAI Partners.{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=Sharon |title=Ferrovial to Sell Swissport to PAI Partners for $909 Million |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-02/pai-partners-agrees-to-purchase-swissport-from-ferrovial-for-909-million.html| url-access=subscription| date=2 November 2010 |access-date=22 August 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg}}
In August 2013, Swissport announced the acquisition of competitor Servisair
{{Cite web |last=Allett |first=Tom |title=Swissport to Acquire Servisair |url=http://www.airportsinternational.com/2013/08/swissport-to-acquire-servisair/14496| date=2 August 2013 |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date=22 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020122652/http://www.airportsinternational.com/2013/08/swissport-to-acquire-servisair/14496 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |url-status=live}} which bought Handlex in Canada, a part of the group Transat in 2012. In December 2013, the acquisition was approved, subject to conditions by the European Commission.{{Cite press release |author= |date=18 December 2013 |title=Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of ground handling service provider Servisair by Swissport, subject to conditions |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_13_1290 |url-status=live |location=Brussels |publisher=European Union |agency=European Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225004614/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_13_1290 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=3 November 2023}}
Over the years, Swissport has been the recipient of several industry awards including Ground Handling Award 2013,{{Cite web |title=Swissport International Ltd. - News & Media Center |url=https://www.swissport.com/nc/news-media-center/news-detail/article/swissport-wins-ground-handling-award-at-the-prestigious-cargo-airline-of-the-year-awards-2013/ |access-date=2021-06-26 |website=Swissport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626042141/https://www.swissport.com/nc/news-media-center/news-detail/article/swissport-wins-ground-handling-award-at-the-prestigious-cargo-airline-of-the-year-awards-2013/ |archive-date=26 June 2021}} Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year 2014{{Cite web |author= |title=Swissport Wins Its Sixth Straight 'Cargo Agent Of The Year' Award |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/press-release/11533375/swissport-international-ltd-swissport-wins-its-sixth-straight-cargo-agent-of-the-year-award |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=Aviation Pros |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103154938/https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/press-release/11533375/swissport-international-ltd-swissport-wins-its-sixth-straight-cargo-agent-of-the-year-award |archive-date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}} (for the sixth year in succession) and Global Aviation Ground Services Company 2012 (for the twelfth year in succession).{{Cite web |author= |title=Corporate Profile |url=http://www.swissport.com/corporate/corporate-profile/ |date= |access-date=22 August 2014 |website=Swissport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822105714/http://www.swissport.com/corporate/corporate-profile/ |archive-date=22 August 2014}}
On 31 July 2015, China's HNA Group, the parent company of Hainan Airlines, announced that it would purchase Swissport for $2.81 billion US.{{Cite news |last=Bray |first=Chad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/business/dealbook/pai-partners-to-sell-swissport-international-for-2-8-billion.html |title=PAI Partners to Sell Swissport International for $2.8 Billion |date=July 31, 2015 |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=1 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004204743/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/business/dealbook/pai-partners-to-sell-swissport-international-for-2-8-billion.html |archive-date=4 October 2015 |url-status=live}}
On 7 March 2018, Swissport concluded the acquisition of Aerocare and its subsidiaries Skycare, Carbridge and EasyCart from Archer Capital and the Aerocare management.{{Cite web |date=2018-01-31 |title=Swissport secures €325m financing commitment for Aerocare acquisition |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/services/ground-handler/swissport-secures-EUR325m-financing-commitment-for-aerocare-acquisition/ |access-date=2021-01-19 |website=Air Cargo News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210084519/https://www.aircargonews.net/services/ground-handler/swissport-secures-EUR325m-financing-commitment-for-aerocare-acquisition/ |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-status=live}} Swissport now holds 100% of Aerocare, an Aviation Services and Airport Infrastructure Services provider in Australia and New Zealand.
On 8 June 2020, Swissport's Belgian subsidiary declared bankruptcy, which was confirmed by the Belgian commercial courts the following day.{{Cite news |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/swissport-belgique-declaree-en-faillite-par-le-tribunal-de-commerce-de-bruxelles-10518453 |title=Swissport Belgique déclarée en faillite par le tribunal de commerce de Bruxelles |date=9 June 2020 |work=RTBF |access-date=9 June 2020 |lang=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127090323/https://www.rtbf.be/article/swissport-belgique-declaree-en-faillite-par-le-tribunal-de-commerce-de-bruxelles-10518453 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |url-status=live}}
On 25 June 2020, Swissport UK & Ireland announced a 50% reduction in its workforce of 8,500.{{Cite news |title=Swissport to cut 8,500 workforce by 50% |url=https://www.globalcargonews.com/swissport-to-cut-uk-and-ireland-workforce-by-50 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625145548/https://www.globalcargonews.com/swissport-to-cut-uk-and-ireland-workforce-by-50 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 June 2020 |access-date=27 June 2020 |publisher=Global Cargo News |date=27 June 2020}}
In December 2020, Swissport had completed its comprehensive financial restructuring that began in August 2020. Ownership of the company has been transferred from the HNA Group to a group of financial investors led by the former senior secured lenders of Swissport.{{Cite web |title=Swissport completes financial restructuring / ownership transfer to group of new shareholders |date=2020-12-22 |access-date=2021-01-21 |url=https://swissport.com.au/2020/12/22/swissport-completes-financial-restructuring-ownership-transfer-group-new-shareholders/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130170652/https://swissport.com.au/2020/12/22/swissport-completes-financial-restructuring-ownership-transfer-group-new-shareholders/ |archive-date=2021-01-30}} Their total existing debt was reduced by about €1.9 billion.{{Cite web |title=Swissport Completes Financial Restructuring |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/press-release/21203643/swissport-international-ltd-swissport-completes-financial-restructuring |access-date=2021-01-19 |website=Aviation Pros}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|swissport.com}}
{{Portal bar|Switzerland|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Aircraft ground handling companies
Category:Foodservice companies
Category:Food and drink companies of Switzerland
Category:Transport companies established in 1996
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1996
Category:1996 establishments in Switzerland