Swissport strengthens presence at Malpensa with rapid cargo scale-up

Swissport has reached a significant operational milestone at its newly launched cargo facility at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), scaling up daily throughput from just 9 tonnes at the start of operations to as much as 100 tonnes per day within five months. The swift ramp-up underlines the company’s execution capabilities and signals a strengthening presence at one of Europe’s most important air cargo gateways.

The Malpensa cargo operation is housed in a newly refurbished 4,000 sq m second-line warehouse located within the WTC Malpensa complex. Designed to meet stringent international standards, the facility complies with high benchmarks for customs procedures, safety, and security. Since launch, Swissport has primarily focused on import handling, pre-customs clearance, and express distribution, supporting time-sensitive cargo flows for airlines, forwarders, and integrators operating through MXP.

Building on the strong initial performance, Swissport is now preparing to broaden the scope of services at Malpensa. Plans include the introduction of export handling capabilities alongside a wider range of general cargo services, positioning the facility as a more comprehensive cargo handling hub within the airport ecosystem.

Marina Bottelli, Swissport’s Country Manager for Italy, highlighted the significance of the achievement, stating: “Scaling from 9 to 100 tonnes per day in such a short time is a clear demonstration of Swissport’s ability to deploy harmonized global standards, advanced handling processes, and high-performing teams. Malpensa is a critical cargo gateway for Italy and Europe, and this success reflects our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and seamless cargo flows for our customers across the region.”

The development aligns with Swissport’s broader long-term strategy in Italy, where the company is expanding its footprint across cargo handling, ground operations, and lounge hospitality services. Malpensa’s role as Italy’s primary air cargo hub makes it a strategic focal point for these investments, particularly as demand continues to rise for efficient, compliant, and scalable logistics solutions.

With volumes growing rapidly and service offerings set to expand, Swissport’s Malpensa operation is expected to contribute to the resilience and competitiveness of Italy’s air cargo infrastructure, while reinforcing the company’s position as a key global air logistics services provider.