Swissport has signed binding transaction agreements to enter the Indonesian air cargo market through a joint venture with Jakarta-based UNEX Aviation Services, taking a stake in the local operator in a deal whose financial terms the company did not disclose.

The move gives Swissport an immediate foothold at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where UNEX has provided cargo warehousing and related services to international and domestic airlines since its founding in 2003. UNEX holds nationwide ground handling licences, a regulatory position that opens the door for the partners to move beyond cargo into ramp handling and passenger services at additional airports across Indonesia.

For Swissport, the transaction is the second market entry announced within a week. Last week the handler said it would enter Colombia through the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International, continuing an acquisition-led expansion strategy under chief executive Warwick Brady.

Brady framed Indonesia as a structural growth play rather than a tactical addition. "Indonesia is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, with IATA forecasting it to become the fourth-largest globally by 2030," he said. "This joint venture is a significant step in our successful strategy to expand our cargo business, while providing a strong platform to strengthen our ground-handling presence in Southeast Asia."

He pointed to the country's geography — more than 17,000 islands and a population exceeding 280 million — as the reason aviation carries outsized weight in domestic connectivity and trade. "We bring extensive expertise in complex hub operations, safety, operational excellence and technology," Brady said, adding that Swissport "will continue to pursue M&A opportunities in the most dynamic aviation economies."

The market data supports the rationale. Indonesia recorded roughly 101 million domestic and international passengers in 2024, alongside airfreight volumes of approximately 1 million tonnes, according to Swissport's figures. Regionally, international traffic within Asia grew 11.9% in 2025, with Indonesia among the major source markets. Asia-Pacific airlines posted 8.4% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in 2025 — the strongest of any global region.

Swissport already operates at airports in China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. In 2025, those regional operations handled approximately 25 million passengers, 632,000 flights and 450,000 tonnes of cargo with a workforce of 10,000 employees. Indonesia extends that network into Southeast Asia's largest aviation market, one where archipelago geography makes air transport difficult to substitute with surface modes.

Budiman Tedja, founder and chief executive of UNEX Aviation Services, said the partnership positions the company to broaden its service offering and raise operational standards. "Swissport's global network, industry expertise and proven track record will help us expand our service offering, strengthen our operational capabilities and support the continued growth of Indonesia's aviation sector," he said. "There are significant opportunities to deliver new solutions for our customers and set new benchmarks for aviation services in Indonesia."

The transaction signals that consolidation in ground handling is accelerating in high-growth markets, with global handlers buying licensed local platforms to shortcut regulatory entry timelines. Swissport has not disclosed when it expects to close the deal or begin expanded ramp and passenger operations beyond Jakarta, but the stated intent to extend to additional Indonesian airports suggests the country will become a multi-station operation rather than a single-hub cargo presence.