Swissport International will acquire a majority stake in Colombian ground services operator Giraldo Hermanos International (GHI), the company confirmed on September 21, 2026, gaining operations in Bogotá and Medellín.

The transaction extends Swissport's presence to 85 airports across 15 Latin American countries and adds ground services in South America's second-largest domestic aviation market.

What does GHI bring to the deal?

GHI, which operates in the Colombian capital Bogotá and Medellín, holds licenses to provide ground handling at all major Colombian airports and offers passenger and air cargo services.

Its existing client roster includes Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo and FedEx, a mix that gives Swissport immediate exposure to scheduled passenger carriers, regional operators and integrator freight customers on both the passenger and cargo sides of the business.

Francisco Giraldo, CEO of GHI, said the partnership combines "GHI's strong local knowledge and established operations with Swissport's global capabilities, creating an exciting platform for our customers, employees and partners and supporting the continued development of our industry in Colombia."

Why is Colombia a strategic priority?

Colombia ranked as South America's second-largest domestic aviation market in 2025, behind only Brazil, with 57.5 million passengers passing through its airports.

The country also holds the position of second-largest international air freight market in the region, according to Swissport data cited in the announcement.

Warwick Brady, President and CEO of Swissport International, called Colombia "a strategically important, high-growth market for Swissport, and GHI has established a strong operational platform from which we can grow together."

"We are delighted to partner with the GHI team as we expand in Colombia, strengthening our ability to support our existing airline customers and their operations across the region," Brady added.

What does Swissport offer in return?

Brady framed the deal as a combination of GHI's local presence with Swissport's global procurement, training and IT systems.

"Our proven track record of operating complex, large hubs, combined with our global network, technology and leading capabilities, puts us in a strong position to support Latin American carriers while bringing Swissport's high standards of service to Colombia," Brady said.

Swissport has tied the acquisition to its broader objective of scaling up in fast-growing Latin American aviation markets, where carrier demand continues to expand.

What conditions remain?

The transaction's closing remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

The size of the stake, financial terms and target completion date were not disclosed in the September 21 statement.

How does the deal fit Swissport's regional strategy?

The Colombian acquisition gives Swissport direct station presence in Bogotá and Medellín, two of the country's principal hubs, alongside its existing 85-airport network spanning 15 Latin American countries.

Approval will allow Swissport to pursue further business in Colombia, where Brady said the deal strengthens the handler's ability to support existing airline customers across the region.

The acquisition also gives Swissport a foothold to win additional ground handling contracts as the country's passenger and freight traffic continues to expand, supporting the handler's stated objective of scaling up in fast-growing Latin American aviation markets.

Giraldo said the partnership will support employees alongside customers and partners as Colombian aviation develops further.