Good news for Swissport International: the ground handling services provider of the aviation sector posted double-digit percentage growth in its operating revenue last year, for the fourth year in succession. Total operating revenue for 2007 amounted to CHF 1891 million, up 10,3% from the CHF 1714 million of the previous year. In further favourable news, the UK-based Institute of Transport Management has named Swissport “Best Global Ground Handling Services Company” for 2008. Swissport thus retains this highly prestigious award, which is based on an extensive survey throughout the aviation industry.

The entire air transport sector is still in buoyant mood. According to IATA, the industry’s umbrella association, 2007 saw 7,4% year-on-year growth in passenger traffic and a 4,3% increase in air cargo volumes. In view of these figures, Swissport is all the more delighted to have recorded an 10,3% year-on-year increase in 2007 in its total operating revenue.

The encouraging revenue result is due in no small part to the tapping of new markets, the company’s strong competitive position and the success of its collaborations with various industry partners. All three business units – Ground Handling, Cargo and Specialty Services – contributed to the sizeable revenue increase, as did Swissport’s two main markets of Europe and the USA.

Best global ground handler

Swissport is equally delighted to have been named Best Global Ground Handling Services Company for 2008 in the latest industry survey by the Institute of Transport Management. The ITM has been carefully appraising the transport industry since 1977, primarily by conducting a comprehensive study of its various market participants. All in all, some 46 airlines, 30 airport directors, 2450 passengers and

72 product suppliers were asked for their views on the best ground handling service provider in the aviation sector. And, having earned the distinction in 2007, Swissport is delighted to have retained it for 2008.
Of Swissport’s many service improvements and achievements in the course of 2007, two in particular may have helped secure this prestigious award: the opening of new destinations in Bulgaria and Japan and its innovative developments in the e-services field, where Swissport became the first ground handler to offer its customer airlines a fully-automated web-check-in platform.

“We’re extremely pleased with the strong starting point that these revenue results and this prestigious award give us for the present year,” says President & CEO Per Utnegaard. “We take our growth and this industry distinction as a confirmation of the rightness of our present corporate strategy. At the same time, we will continue to make every effort to further enhance the quality of our products in 2008 and offer our customers our services at even more destinations, especially in the emerging markets.”