The ground service provider Swissport has been awarded the contract for the ground handling area of ​​Alitalia, which is currently being wound up. In the future, one will therefore work for Ita Airways at Rome-Fiumicino Airport.

Alitalia's insolvency administrators put the ground handling division up for sale some time ago. In addition to Swissport, a number of other providers were also interested and submitted bids. Ultimately, the contract went to Swissport. Upon completion of the consultation process, it will take over the ground handling business at Rome Fiumicino Airport and the staff will transfer from Alitalia – Società Aerea Italiana SpA under extraordinary administration – to Swissport.

“With the resurgence in demand for air travel following the COVID crisis, airlines worldwide are refocusing on their core competencies such as schedule quality, marketing, digital distribution and safe and reliable flight operations,” said Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International AG. "More and more airlines are choosing Swissport as their preferred service partner and entrusting us with the handling of even complex home base operations."

With Rome-Fiumicino, Swissport is adding an important European business and leisure center to its growing global airport network, continuing its rapid expansion. The market leader in ground handling services, based in Zurich, Switzerland, offers around 850 airlines on six continents a comprehensive range of ground handling services and air cargo handling. In Europe, Swissport takes over the complete hub management for airlines at their home base, including at the airports in Zurich (Switzerland), Munich (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland).

“We are excited about Swissport's expansion into Italy and the acquisition of Alitalia's ground handling business at Rome Fiumicino Airport,” said Marina Bottelli, Swissport's General Manager Italy. “We look forward to welcoming the first of the 1 former Alitalia employees. Your professionalism will be key to success for reliable operations in Italy and we at Swissport are thrilled to be playing our part in a world-class Italian aviation sector.”