Etihad and Swissport widen ground handling and cargo tie-up to 40 airports

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Swissport to increase the number of stations it serves from 30 to 40, extending ground handling and cargo services across five regions.

Expanded network for consistent service

Etihad Airways and Swissport have agreed to expand their global partnership, increasing the number of airports at which Swissport serves the Abu Dhabi carrier from 30 to 40. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at Arabian Travel Market, covers airports across Africa, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Chief Operations and Guest Officer, Etihad Airways, said the move will give guests a uniform experience and provide Etihad’s operations with the consistency required to support the airline’s expansion. The airline, based in Abu Dhabi, is positioning the deal as a practical step to align service delivery across its international network.

Scope of services and technological focus

Under the MoU, the two companies will collaborate on ground handling and cargo services, with the potential to extend their relationship into airport hospitality through Swissport’s Aspire brand. Swissport will bring its global network and operational expertise to bear on Etihad’s stations worldwide.

Technology and innovation are central to the expanded partnership. The companies have identified automation, artificial intelligence and data-driven insights as priority areas to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen service delivery and improve the guest experience. Swissport’s work on autonomous ground vehicles is specifically cited as an example of how the partners intend to support safer and more seamless airport operations.

Warwick Brady, President and Chief Executive Officer, Swissport, said the two organisations share an ambition for operational excellence and a focus on the customer experience. He emphasised Swissport’s readiness to support Etihad’s next phase of growth with its network, teams and technology capabilities.

The agreement underscores Etihad’s reliance on integrated ground services as it expands its global footprint. For Abu Dhabi, the partnership reinforces the emirate’s connectivity and the airline’s role in linking the capital to key markets across several continents. The deal also highlights an industry trend toward closer collaboration between carriers and specialist service providers to deliver consistent standards and exploit new technologies at scale.

Source: WAM — https://www.wam.ae/en/article/c29xyjb-etihad-airways-swissport-expand-global-ground