Swissport International will enter the Colombian market with the acquisition of a majority stake in Giraldo Hermanos International SAS (GHI), a Colombian ground services provider at the airports of Bogotá and Medellín.
The agreement, announced September 21, 2026, marks Swissport’s entry into Colombia and establishes a strategic platform for further expansion in South America’s second largest aviation market. The move is part of the company’s wider strategy to grow its presence in large and fast-growing aviation markets and bolster the support it provides to airline customers across the region.
Swissport currently operates at 85 airports in 15 Latin American countries. The move into Colombia is intended to further expand that regional footprint, combining GHI’s existing local operations with Swissport’s international network and capabilities.
In Bogotá and Medellín GHI provides ground handling services and is authorized to operate in all the major airports in Colombia. Its service portfolio includes handling of passengers and air cargo, assistance for passengers with reduced mobility and rental of equipment.
The Colombian company also brings with it an established and diversified customer base that includes Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo and FedEx.
“Colombia is a strategically important high growth market for Swissport and we are excited to see the operational platform that GHI has already established,” said Warwick Brady, President & CEO Swissport International.
“Colombia is a strategically important, high growth market for Swissport and GHI has established a strong operational platform from which we can grow together,” Brady said. The partnership will enhance Swissport’s capacity to assist existing airline customers and their operations across the region, he added.
Swissport’s growth strategy is based on safety, operational excellence and a strong customer service focus, said Brady. He also mentioned the company’s experience in managing complex and big hubs, as well as its global network, technology and operational capabilities as assets that can support Latin American carriers and bring Swissport’s service standards to Colombia.
Colombia also has an important role in the region’s air cargo market. It is the second largest international air freight market in South America and has a particularly important role to play in the movement of time-sensitive exports such as flowers.
The largest international air cargo flow in the region is trade between Colombia and the United States, which will transport 500,000 tons in 2025.
“We are very proud to welcome Swissport as our new majority partner,” said Francisco Giraldo, GHI CEO. He said Swissport’s global footprint, industry expertise and standards of safety, operational excellence and innovation would be a huge contribution to the country’s aviation services sector.
The partnership combines GHI’s local expertise and well-established operations with the global capabilities of Swissport, Giraldo said, creating a platform designed to benefit customers, employees and partners while supporting the continued development of Colombia’s aviation services industry.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Once completed, Swissport and GHI will work together, leveraging GHI’s existing local footprint, to further develop the quality, reliability and reach of ground handling services for airlines and their passengers throughout Colombia.
Rene Pascua, chief executive officer for Latin America and the Caribbean at Swissport, said the acquisition was a good fit with the company’s growth strategy in the region.
“Colombia has attractive long-term prospects in both aviation and cargo,” said Pascua, who added that Swissport is already in discussions with a number of key international customers who are keen to see the company enter the Colombian market.
He said that the combination of GHI’s existing platform and Swissport’s global network and operational capabilities would enable the companies to support the ongoing development of the market, while creating value for customers. Swissport also looks forward to working with the GHI team and welcoming its employees into the global Swissport organization, added Pascua.
