Zurich/Stuttgart, Nov. 17, 2009 – Swissport International has been awarded a ground handling license for Munich Airport. Swissport and its local joint-venture partner Losch Airport Service won the corresponding tender process against various well-known competitors. The seven-year license will enable Swissport/Losch to provide ramp (apron) services at the airport. These operations have now been scheduled to commence on March 1, 2010.
The new ground handling license for Munich attracted sizeable interest: the airport is a key transport hub, and the awarding of such licenses in Europe is a far-from-everyday event. With local market leader FMG already established at the airport, this second license was put to international tender. The proposed collaboration between Swissport (with its global expertise) and Losch Airport Service (with its strong local roots) proved the most attractive offer, and earned the partners the license.
“It's the first time Swissport has been awarded with a ramp license in Germany what we consider as a major step ahead in the German market,” says Per Utnegaard, president and CEO of Swissport International. “And we’re greatly looking forward to further developing our customer relations with all airlines at Munich Airport, the second biggest hub in Germany.”
Losch Airport Service has been active in the airport sector for several years now: its workforce of more than 500 personnel already provides ground handling services at five German airports. “I am delighted at this license award,” says CEO Marc Losch. “And I’m convinced that, working with Swissport, we can offer truly excellent ground handling services for Munich Airport and the airlines that serve it.”
Adrian Melliger, Swissport’s senior vice president Switzerland & Germany, is equally enthusiastic. “Munich is an investment in the future for us, too, and one where we expect to see attractive growth in the longer term,” he explains. “The airport handled over 34 million passengers and some 400,000 aircraft movements last year,” Melliger continues. “And I have every confidence that Swissport/Losch will be able to establish itself in this market and offer the airport’s airlines an attractive new ground handling option.”
Preparations already in full swing
All the operational and commercial aspects of the new services – processes, structures, customer agreements, personnel, infrastructure, equipment and so on – will be finalized over the next few weeks with a view to starting operations as planned on March 1, 2010. Swissport/ Losch look forward to the challenge of making their own quality mark at Germany’s second-biggest hub.
