Swissport strengthens UK presence with ASC acquisition
This strategic acquisition positions Swissport for continued growth in both ground and cargo handling at London’s major airports.
Swissport, a major provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling, has signed binding transaction agreements to acquire ASC, which offers ground handling and cargo services at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, according to an official release from Swissport.
Heathrow is the fifth largest airport worldwide by passenger volume, and more than 60% of Britain’s air freight goes through London’s airports. Gatwick is the UK’s second busiest airport, carrying 43 million passengers to over 200 destinations annually.
“The UK is one of our core markets worldwide. Strengthening our presence in the country is a key pillar of our growth strategy. Swissport has a clear M&A strategy to enhance our platform in markets where we can optimise growth, margin, and resilience across the portfolio. We will continue to pursue our ambitious expansion agenda by combining strong organic growth and strategic M&A in critical geographic markets across our ground handling, cargo, and hospitality businesses globally, providing a world-class service to our customers,” says Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International.
This strategic acquisition positions Swissport for continued growth in both ground and cargo handling at London’s major airports. It strengthens Swissport’s ground handling capabilities, reinforcing its role as a reliable and forward-looking partner to airlines and airports, while also providing access to additional cargo capacity through two warehouses at London Heathrow. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, the release added.
Karen Cox, Swissport’s CEO for the UK and Ireland, says: “We are really excited about the opportunities this agreement provides to enhance our services and further grow our offerings in the UK. Swissport and ASC share the same values of safety, operational excellence, customer focus, and innovative technology solutions. This means brilliant opportunities for our employees as they are part of a growing, global company in a thriving sector. We are very much looking forward to welcoming ASC into the Swissport family.”
“This agreement will give our customers, employees, and partners the opportunity to benefit from Swissport’s extensive global footprint with a broader range of services across its network. By combining our experienced teams with a proven track record of consistent high-quality service delivery, we will continue strengthening resilience and driving greater efficiency to our airline partners through our integrated and comprehensive service offering,” says Ignazio Coraci, Chairman of the Board of ASC.
