Swissport to enter Colombia through GHI acquisition

Swissport International has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in Colombian ground services company Giraldo Hermanos International SAS (GHI), marking its entry into Colombia.

The acquisition will strengthen Swissport’s presence in Latin America, where it currently operates at 85 airports across 15 countries. The company said the investment will establish a platform for growth in Colombia and expand its ability to support airline customers across the region.

GHI operates in Bogotá and Medellín and is licensed to provide ground handling services at all major airports in Colombia. Its services include passenger and air cargo handling, assistance for passengers with reduced mobility and equipment rental. Its customers include Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo and FedEx.

Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International, said Colombia is a strategically important market for the company and that GHI provides a strong operational platform for growth. He added that the partnership will strengthen Swissport’s ability to support existing airline customers and their operations across the region.

Francisco Giraldo, CEO of GHI, said Swissport’s global footprint, industry expertise and focus on safety, operational excellence and innovation would contribute to Colombia’s aviation services sector. He added that the partnership combines GHI’s local knowledge and operations with Swissport’s global capabilities.

Colombia is South America’s second-largest domestic aviation market after Brazil, with 57.5 million passengers travelling through its airports in 2025. The Bogotá-Medellín corridor was identified by IATA as the busiest airport pair in Latin America in 2025, with 3.5 million passengers.

The country is also the second-largest international air freight market in the region and is an important market for time-sensitive exports such as flowers. Trade between Colombia and the US accounted for the region’s largest international air cargo flow, with 500,000 tonnes transported in 2025.

The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by Swissport to expand its aviation and cargo services across international markets. In September, Swissport began handling LATAM Cargo operations at Cape Town and Johannesburg, supporting cargo services between South Africa and São Paulo. The company’s African network currently covers 29 airports in six countries, with 17 warehouses supporting cargo operations.

Swissport has also expanded its partnerships with airlines. In September, it agreed with Etihad Airways to expand their global partnership from 30 to 40 airports across Africa, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. The agreement covers ground handling and cargo services, with potential expansion into airport hospitality.

Earlier in September, Swissport entered a five-year partnership with flynas under which Swissport Saudi Arabia will become the airline’s exclusive ground handling partner across its network in Saudi Arabia. Flynas will also acquire a 10% stake in Swissport Saudi Arabia, with an option to increase its holding to 20%.

In June, Swissport launched cargo operations at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, marking its entry into China. The operation includes cold chain capabilities and AI-enabled systems and is connected to Swissport’s global network of 312 airports across 49 countries.

Rene Pascua, Swissport’s CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the Colombia acquisition is aligned with the company’s regional growth strategy. He added that Swissport is in discussions with several international customers interested in its entry into Colombia.

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Following completion, Swissport and GHI will work together to build on GHI’s local operations and further develop ground services for airlines and passengers across Colombia.