Menzies Aviation secures seven-year ground handling licences in Portugal
Cargo and mail handling is included in the licences at Lisbon and Porto airports, alongside baggage handling and other ground handling operations across Portugal’s three largest airports.
Menzies Aviation has secured seven-year ground handling licences at Portugal’s three largest airports, Lisbon, Porto and Faro, following the completion of the National Civil Aviation Authority’s (ANAC) tender process.
ANAC confirmed that SPdH – Serviços Portugueses de Handling, SA, has met the applicable legal and regulatory requirements and demonstrated the technical capacity to provide ground handling services to third parties at the three airports.
The licences cover baggage handling at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. Cargo and mail handling is authorised at Lisbon and Porto, while ground handling operations are permitted at all three airports.
Menzies said the seven-year licences would provide long-term certainty for its customers, employees and airport partners, while supporting further investment and growth across its Portuguese operations.
Portugal is one of Menzies’ largest European markets, where the company employs more than 3,500 people and supports over 100,000 aircraft turns every year. In addition to Lisbon, Porto and Faro, it operates at Funchal and Porto Santo airports in Madeira.
Menzies acquired a majority stake in SPdH from TAP Air Portugal in 2024 and took full ownership of the company in June 2026. SPdH was previously known as Groundforce Portugal. TAP remains a customer of Menzies.
Hassan El-Houry, Chief Executive Officer of Menzies Aviation, said Portugal was a strategically important market connecting Europe, North America, South America and Africa. He added that the company had invested in its operations, workforce and service capabilities in recent years.
Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson, Executive Vice President Europe at Menzies Aviation, said Portugal welcomed a record 72.5 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 4.7% from the previous year. He said the licences would provide stability for the company to plan investments and support customers as the market develops.
ANAC said the tender process was conducted in accordance with the principles of legality, transparency, impartiality and equal treatment of competitors. The authority will continue to monitor compliance with the legal, regulatory and operational requirements applicable to the licensed activities.
