Swissport Wins Contract of Ground Handling Services in 15 Moroccan Airports

Swissport International has won an international tender launched by Morocco for ground handling services in 15 airports.

Under the seven-year contract, the handling company pledges to provide best ground services in the airports of Agadir, Al Hoceima, Casablanca, Dakhla, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fès, Laâyoune, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat, Tangier and Tetouan.

The company vowed to invest, under the new concessions, over 200 million Moroccan Dirham ($20.7 million) in the renewal of its equipment of baggage carts, aircraft tow tractors and cargo loaders.

“We are delighted with the trust that the Moroccan airport operator ONDA has placed in us,” said Christophe de Figueiredo, CEO, Swissport Morocco.

“Since 2012, our service agents and ramp personnel have all been working with great dedication to exceed the high expectations of our airline clients in Morocco”, he added.

“This license renewal was earned by all of our staff. At our Moroccan locations, we will continue to invest in highly trained staff and deploy state-of-the-art equipment, many of which will be electrically powered to further improve our carbon footprint”, stressed Mr. Christophe.

By 2021, for example, Swissport will convert most of its fleet of ground support equipment at Marrakech airport to electric propulsion.

“Morocco is of great importance for us”, said Luzius Wirth, EVP Europe, Middle East & Africa of Swissport International. “Our commitment is reflected in our sizeable deployment of state-of-the-art electric GSE in Morocco.”

Swissport recently announced its ambition to increase the share of electric vehicles in its global fleet to at least 50 per cent by 2025.

Swissport is the second largest airport ground services company in Morocco after local Royal Air Maroc, and serves a total of 22 airline customers such as Air Arabia, Air Canada, British Airways, Easyjet, Lufthansa, Ryanair and TAP Air Portugal.