Swissport is growing its business in Morocco and is now moving into air cargo. Swissport has agreed to buy Swiftair Maroc, a Casablanca-based firm that handles air freight. The price of the deal has not been shared.
The move gives Swissport a direct entry into Morocco’s air cargo market through Mohammed V International Airport, which handles about 95% of all air freight in the country. In simple terms, almost everything that flies in and out as cargo passes through this airport.
Swissport is already well established in Morocco. It provides ground handling services at 16 airports across the country. It also runs business aviation services in Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangier, and operates 10 airport lounges under its Aspire brand across nine locations.
The deal includes a 3,700 square metre warehouse at Casablanca airport. That is roughly the size of half a football pitch. The site includes temperature-controlled storage, with cold rooms designed for medicines and perishable food.
Warwick Brady, chief executive of Swissport International, said Morocco’s location is a key reason behind the move.
“Morocco has become an essential crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Americas.”
He said demand for air freight is growing, driven by exports from industries such as cars, aircraft parts, agriculture and textiles.
On the other side of the deal, Spanish group Swiftair is stepping back from ground operations to focus on flying. Its founder, Salvador Moreno, said the company will stay involved as a customer. “Our company will remain one of the main clients of the new cargo entity managed by Swissport in Casablanca.”
Swiftair employs about 1,600 people and operates nearly 80 aircraft. It runs more than 77 routes across 45 countries, mainly working with global delivery firms like DHL Express, FedEx and UPS.
The deal still needs approval from regulators in Morocco before it is final.
It comes at a time of strong growth for Swissport. The company reported revenue of 3.9 billion euros last year, with its global cargo business growing by 10%, showing a clear push to expand further in logistics.
