Swissport International has been awarded a license for 15 airports in a global tender for airport ground handling services by the Moroccan airport operator ONDA.
The new license has a term of seven years and is valid for the airports in Agadir, Al Hoceima, Casablanca, Dakhla, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fès, Laâyoune, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat, Tangier and Tetouan.
Swissport was awarded the license for two out of four lots (lots 2 and 3) and prevailed against half a dozen competitors.
“Since 2012, our service agents and ramp personnel have all been working with great dedication to exceed the high expectations of our airline clients in Morocco,” said Christophe de Figueiredo, CEO Swissport Morocco.
“At our Moroccan locations, we will continue to invest in highly trained staff and deploy state-of-the-art equipment, many of which will be electrically powered to further improve our carbon footprint.”
By 2021, for example, Swissport will convert most of its fleet of ground support equipment at Marrakech airport to electric propulsion.
Under the new concessions, Swissport will in total invest over 200 million Moroccan Dirham (20.7 million USD) in the renewal of its equipment of baggage carts, aircraft tow tractors and cargo loaders.
“Morocco is of great importance for us,” said Luzius Wirth, EVP Europe, Middle East and Africa of Swissport International. “Our commitment is reflected in our sizeable deployment of state-of-the-art electric GSE in Morocco.”
Swissport recently announced its ambition to increase the share of electric vehicles in its global fleet to at least 50% by 2025.
