Korean boosts cargo customer base for Swissport in Amsterdam

Zurich, Switzerland—March 26, 2012—Swissport International, a global provider of ground services for the aviation sector, now services its newest customer— global air cargo carrier Korean Air Lines—at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Korean operates three weekly B747 freighter services to and from Schiphol in addition to three weekly passenger services that also carry cargo into and out of Schiphol Airport. Swissport will take over the cargo handling at its Schiphol Airport airside facility starting May 1 on behalf of Korean.

“We are very pleased to begin working with Korean Air Cargo at Schipho  and this agreement will provide a significant boost to our volumes,” said John Batten, Executive Vice President for Global Cargo at Swissport International. “Korean is a world-class airline and we are looking forward to applying our own world-class processes to maximizing the efficiency of its cargo handling operations at Schiphol.”

Korean is the largest in a number of new cargo customers for Swissport at Amsterdam this year. Others include MNG Airlines; FlyBe; South American Airways; Germania; Sky Airlines; Gabon Airlines; Finnair; Stabo Air; Middle East Airlines; Imperial Cargo Airlines; and a trucking partnership with Egypt Air Cargo.

Another key customer, Jade Cargo International, is also set to return to Amsterdam shortly. The Shenzhen-based B747 freighter operator suspended flights on December 30 in order to restructure its financial arrangements. A restructuring agreement has now been reached with fellow Chinese logistics and transport company UniTop Group.

“It has been a difficult start of the year for Swissport Cargo Services in The Netherlands and I am therefore very encouraged by the level of new contract wins,” said Wouter Brand, Managing Director for Swissport Cargo Services in The Netherlands. “It is also very pleasing to see Jade Cargo International returning to Schiphol and we look forward to resuming our successful handling partnership.”