Etihad Cargo and Swissport agree global partnership deal

Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground services to the aviation sector, has been certified as the first Preferred Handling Partner (PHP) of Etihad Cargo, the fast-moving cargo division of United Arab Emirates carrier Etihad Airways.

Only companies who meet the high service performance standards of Etihad Cargo and can assure consistency in quality across their regional operations can be certified a Preferred Handling Partner. Etihad Cargo has specific performance benchmarks in the areas of safety, security management, regulatory compliance, training, IT interfaces, business planning and risk management.

The two-year PHP certification with Swissport is focused initially on six Etihad Cargo stations: Athens, Geneva, Larnaca, Nairobi, Seoul and Toronto. Etihad Cargo hopes to expand cargo operations with Swissport at other destinations over time, in addition to enhancing cargo handling at more than 100 off-line Swissport destinations, which Etihad Cargo offers in conjunction with partners.

Kevin Knight, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Etihad Airways, said:  “Swissport is world-renowned and has an enviable track record in providing high-quality and efficient ground services to cargo operators. Following an extensive audit of their corporate procedures and compliance with Etihad Cargo’s expectations, we believe this PHP certification not only makes sound business sense, but the synergies derived from the deal also raise the bar for other suppliers to join our Etihad Cargo PHP programme.

“The Etihad Cargo-Swissport PHP deal will standardise the product and service we jointly deliver, strengthen our network operations, and enhance the reliability and quality of ground handling services to our customers.  We look forward to developing this partnership into one of mutual confidence and trust, and maximising the returns on our commercial operations.”

John Batten, Executive Vice President Cargo Services at Swissport International, said: “We are proud Etihad Cargo has chosen us as their first ever Preferred Handling Partner and we look forward to close cooperation as we provide the highest quality services and processes to further develop and expand our partnership into the future.”