The service group Wisag has taken over operational ramp handling for the airline SunExpress at Cologne/Bonn Airport as part of the current winter flight schedule. As the company confirmed in early February 2026, the cooperation encompasses all ground-based services necessary for smooth flight operations. These include, among other things, loading and unloading aircraft, transporting baggage, and maneuvering aircraft using pushback vehicles. The partnership is designed for the long term and marks a strategic expansion of Wisag's portfolio at the Rhine air traffic hub.
The logistical significance of this contract becomes particularly clear with regard to the upcoming 2026 summer flight schedule. During the peak travel season, the ground handling service provider expects up to 13 handling operations per day for the Turkish-German airline. Extrapolated to the entire year, the planned volume amounts to approximately 2.400 flight movements. SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, uses Cologne/Bonn Airport as one of its key hubs for holiday travel to the Mediterranean and Anatolia, which necessitates high efficiency and precision in the handling of ground processes.
Further research underscores the competitive landscape at the Cologne/Bonn Airport, where Wisag already serves well-known clients in the passenger and cargo sectors. The acquisition of SunExpress's ground handling services necessitated an increase in staff and the provision of specific technical equipment to ensure short aircraft turnaround times. Industry experts view the change of service provider as part of an efficiency strategy by the airline, which is increasingly optimizing its operational processes at German airports through specialized external partners. For Cologne/Bonn Airport, this collaboration means a stabilization of handling capacity in a high-traffic segment.
Wisag Aviation Service Holding is relying on the integration of modern IT systems for managing apron staff resources in this project. The goal is to support the airline's on-time performance by minimizing loading times. In addition to baggage handling, the staff is also responsible for cabin cleaning and the aircraft's water supply. By consolidating these tasks with a single service provider, the parties involved anticipate a reduction in interface losses during turnaround management. Furthermore, the collaboration at the Cologne/Bonn location strengthens Wisag's position as one of the leading private providers of airport services in Germany.