Finnair partners with Swissport at Helsinki Airport

Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground services to the aviation sector, today signed a 5 year agreement with Finnair to take over all of Finnair’s baggage and apron services at Helsinki Airport hub effective as of 1st December, 2011.

Mr. Mika Vehviläinen, Chief Executive Officer of Finnair, said: “Our aim is to further improve the quality, speed and cost effectiveness of our baggage handling and apron services. Swissport is a global player with extensive experience in ground services in international airports, and their competencies and processes are world-class.”

Developing its partnership network is a key part of Finnair’s strategy of structural changes, which aims for considerable cost savings while facilitating growth through quality improvements. By 2020, Finnair’s goal is to grow its traffic to Asia from 74 flights per week to 140, while also doubling its revenue from Asian traffic.

Finnair currently operates more than 100 flights per day at Helsinki, Finland’s main international and domestic airport.

Per H. Utnegaard, President and CEO of the Swissport Group, said: “Finnair is a leading airline with substantial plans for growth and we look forward to introducing Swissport’s globally recognized best practice formula, and working in partnership with them. Our aim is to further improve the quality of services and enhance the customer experience, creating additional value for Finnair at its hub in Helsinki.”

The contracts were officially signed today by the CEO’s of both Finnair and Swissport International, Mr. Mika Vehviläinen and Mr. Per H. Utnegaard.

Swissport International Ltd provides ground services for around 100 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo a year (the latter using 98 warehouses with a total floor area of over 360,000 square metres) on behalf of some 650 client-companies in the aviation sector. With a workforce of around 35,000 personnel, Swissport is active at 180 stations in 36 countries on five continents, and generated consolidated operating revenue of CHF 1.7 billion in 2010. www.swissport.com

Source: Swissport