ZURICH-based Swissport, the global groundhandler, will acquire Flightcare Spain and Flightcare Belgium from FCC Versia pending regulatory approval, thus expanding to become a full-service provider at Brussels Airport and expanding into Spain.
    The acquisitions of the Flightcare businesses in Spain and Belgium, which combined handled over 24 million passengers and 287,000 tonnes of cargo in 2011, and employing around 3,000 staff, are "great additions to Swissport's network", said a company statement.
    "Spain is a very attractive market, where Swissport has been providing ground handling services since 2000, and the addition of Flightcare's operations in Barcelona, Malaga, Fuerteventura, Valencia, Alicante, Jerez and Almeria will broaden Swissport's ground handling network," said the statement.
    Said Swissport CEO Per Utnegaard: "Both these markets offer great potential to Swissport. These are essentially bolt-on acquisitions in two existing core markets for Swissport that perfectly complement Swissport's existing activities in Spain and Belgium and will enable us to grow the business most effectively. We look forward to working with staff, airport operators, and our customers to ensure a seamless transfer of the businesses, and to continue expanding our product portfolio in Spain and Belgium by applying Swissport's highly recognised standards and processes."

(source:shipping online)