Swissport and flynas have formalized a long-term strategic partnership that combines commercial cooperation with direct investment, further strengthening their positions in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding aviation market.
The agreement brings together Swissport, a global leader in aviation services, and flynas, one of the Middle East’s leading low-cost carriers, in a landmark five-year arrangement. Under the deal, Swissport Saudi Arabia will become flynas’ exclusive ground handling partner across the airline’s entire network in the Kingdom.
The partnership also includes an equity investment by flynas. The airline will acquire a 10% stake in Swissport Saudi Arabia, with the option to increase its ownership to as much as 20% in the future.
Once the agreement is implemented, Swissport’s share of Saudi Arabia’s ground handling market will rise to approximately 40%, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s major aviation services providers. The partnership also places the company firmly within the development ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its broader aviation strategy.
“This partnership marks a major milestone for Swissport in Saudi Arabia,” said Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International.
According to Brady, the agreement significantly increases Swissport’s scale and competitive position in what he described as the Middle East’s largest and fastest-growing aviation market. He added that it demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to the development and success of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.
Swissport’s experience in safety, operational excellence, digital transformation and workforce development will provide the operational foundation for flynas’ continued expansion, Brady said. By combining Swissport’s global expertise and technological capabilities with flynas’ growth plans, the companies aim to establish a long-term partnership capable of supporting Vision 2030 while providing safe, reliable and high-quality aviation services to millions of passengers.
For flynas, the agreement comes as the airline continues to expand its fleet and destination network.
Ayed Al Jeaid, Chairman of flynas, said the unprecedented growth in both areas requires an integrated services ecosystem capable of keeping pace with the airline’s expansion while ensuring that growth remains sustainable.
He described flynas’ direct investment in the ground handling sector as a strategic extension of its own operations, designed to improve operational readiness, increase efficiency and support the carrier’s ambitions to strengthen its regional and global position.
flynas continues rapid expansion
Flynas is one of the fastest growing airlines in the Middle East. The carrier has increased its capacity by more than 60% between 2019 and 2024, mirroring the wider growth trend of Saudi Arabia’s aviation market.
Flynas carried 15.8 million passengers in 2025, up 7% year-on-year.
The airline’s growth is closely aligned to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy with flynas playing a role in the growth of tourism, improved connectivity and the Kingdom’s wider economic diversification plans.
The carrier also said it will grow its fleet commitments further in 2026. In July, flynas announced the acquisition of five A330neo wide-body aircraft, and 20 A321neo aircraft, through its existing agreements with Airbus.
The additions bring flynas’ confirmed Airbus orders to 235 aircraft, from a total orderbook of 280 aircraft, providing the airline with additional capacity for its planned expansion in the coming years.
“The partnership is at a critical junction for Saudi Arabia’s aviation and logistics ambitions,” said Hamad Alhemede, Chief Executive Officer of Swissport KSA.
Alhemede added, “Saudi Vision 2030 aims to develop the aviation sector and enhance its competitiveness as an important pillar of economic diversification to position the Kingdom as an international logistics hub.”
He said flynas’ role in supporting the Kingdom’s aviation strategy has been highlighted and added that the airline’s fast growth is now taking it into a new phase of strategic expansion.
“Swissport’s global expertise, advanced technologies and integrated solutions will help provide the infrastructure and operational capabilities to support that next stage of growth,” said Alhemede.
The deal also marks a huge change in the traditional customer-supplier relationship between the two companies. Flynas’s entry as a shareholder in Swissport Saudi Arabia will give both parties a direct financial interest in the company’s future development.
“This partnership will be a critical enabler of that journey,” said Alhemede. “The alignment between the two companies and the shared investment creates a relationship that is built on mutual growth and common ambitions.”
“The investment is of strategic importance,” said Bander Almohanna, flynas’ Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
He said that flynas’ decision to become a shareholder in Swissport Saudi Arabia reflects its belief in the importance of strengthening a closer relationship based on common objectives and joint investment in the future of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.
“Swissport is a strategic partner and a trusted one, with operational expertise, global leadership in aviation services and integrated technology solutions that closely fit flynas’ long-term growth strategy,” Almohanna said.
Swissport expands its Saudi footprint
The agreement is expected to significantly increase Swissport’s operations in Saudi Arabia while providing a platform for further expansion.
Ten years after beginning operations in the Kingdom, Swissport now employs more than 6,000 aviation professionals and serves customers at 20 airports across Saudi Arabia.
The wider economic importance of the sector is also substantial. According to IATA, using its latest available data from 2023, aviation contributes approximately US$90.6 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy, equivalent to 8.5% of the country’s GDP, while supporting more than 1.4 million jobs.
Saudi Arabia is simultaneously committing significant resources to the development of its aviation infrastructure and wider ecosystem. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is investing more than US$100 billion in aviation infrastructure and ecosystem development.
Swissport is also pursuing its own technological transformation as the Saudi market expands. Its initiatives include AI-enabled resource planning, turnaround monitoring, robotics and autonomous ground support equipment.
Alongside technology and infrastructure, the company is placing a strong emphasis on developing local talent. Structured learning programmes through the Swissport Academy are intended to strengthen the skills base needed to support Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
The flynas agreement therefore extends beyond a conventional ground handling contract. By combining exclusive operational responsibilities with direct equity participation, the partnership creates a long-term framework linking Swissport’s aviation services capabilities with flynas’ ambitious expansion plans and Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 objectives.
