Marking one of its largest coordinated go-lives in recent years, Swissport has expanded operations to 13 airports across Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its strategic growth in the Middle East and strengthening its alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

On 1 June 2025, Swissport, the world’s leading provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling, launched coordinated ground handling operations for Air Arabia across 13 airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This milestone includes the start of services at seven newly added airports—Hail, Al Jouf, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif, Abha, and Jizan—expanding to Swissport’s existing network in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, Dammam, Al-Qassim, and Al-Ula. The simultaneous go-live also signifies the beginning of a new collaboration with Air Arabia, one of the region’s leading low-cost carriers, following the signing of multi-station ground handling agreement. Inaugural flights were welcomed with local celebrations at each of the new locations.

"This launch marks a critical step in Swissport Saudi Arabia’s growth strategy, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030. Expanding our ground operations to 13 airports reflects both our long-term commitment to the Kingdom and our readiness to deliver operational excellence at scale," says Dirk Goovaerts, CEO of Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa & India, and Global Cargo Chair at Swissport. "Our investments in innovation, sustainability, and talent are clear signals of our continued focus on safety, reliability, and world-class service. Together with our trusted partners, we are proud to be shaping the future of aviation in the region."

Following the official license granted on 24 April 2025, Swissport had just 40 days to prepare for the operational launch across seven additional airports. In this short timeframe, the company trained more training than 400 staff, transported a full fleet of ground support equipment (GSE) to geographically dispersed airports, and ensured all the seven newly added locations were fully equipped and operationally ready ahead of schedule. This achievement was made possible through close collaboration between Swissport’s local and global teams, and the rapid deployment of the company’s proven global processes, infrastructure standards, and training programs.

Swissport’s operational performance in Saudi Arabia is among the strongest across its global network. On-time performance (OTP) in the Kingdom consistently exceeds 99%%—the highest in the country — demonstrating Swissport’s disciplined execution and unwavering commitment to punctual, high-quality ground services. This reliability reinforces Swissport’s position as a trusted partner to airlines and a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions.

"This is a proud moment for our teams across the Kingdom. Our expansion to 13 airports was made possible thanks to the dedication of our local talent and the strength of our Swissport training programs," says Hamad Alhemede, CEO of Swissport Saudi Arabia. "Our operations are locally led and supported by global experts and international best practices. Together, we are building a future-ready operation that reflects the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and service."

Swissport’s continued expansion is further supported by its strategic partnership with Asyad Holding Group and its close collaboration with key stakeholders, including GACA, Matarat, and the Air Connectivity Program. With operations now live across 13 airports, Swissport is exploring the introduction of additional services—such as cargo handling, aircraft cleaning, and lounge operations—to offer a comprehensive ground service solution for airline partners. As demand in Saudi Arabia’s aviation market accelerates, Swissport is well positioned to support this growth with a scalable, safe, and reliable operation.