Swissport has returned to the French market with a new cargo operation at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse, opening a 3,000 sq m warehouse that splits into a 1,000 sq m French customs zone and 2,000 sq m of international handling space for airline pallet build-up and breakdown.

The new entity, Swissport Cargo Services France, will initially concentrate on airline cargo handling. Although it operates as an independent organisation for the French market, it will draw on the resources of Swissport's established Basel cargo operation, which the handler expanded in June 2025 in response to rising demand, as well as on the company's global standards in safety, quality and operational performance.

"France is an important aviation market with significant long-term potential for Swissport," said Bruno Stefani, regional chief executive Switzerland, Italy and France at Swissport.

"The launch of Swissport Cargo Services France marks a significant step in strengthening our presence in the country. Beyond cargo, we see opportunities to bring our global expertise in airport ground services and hospitality to the French market and to build strong, long-term partnerships with airlines and airports."

Andreas Behnke, head of cargo Switzerland, Italy and France and station manager Basel-Mulhouse at Swissport, framed the launch as a transfer of proven capability rather than a start from scratch.

"The new operation allows us to build on the strong expertise of our established Basel cargo team while developing a dedicated presence in France," he said. "Our focus is on bringing the same commitment to teamwork, safety and operational excellence to our new operation and providing a strong foundation for its future development."

The facility strengthens Swissport's European cargo network, itself part of a global footprint of more than 120 cargo centres. Worldwide, the company handles over 5 million tonnes of airfreight annually.

The French launch is the third expansion Swissport has announced this month. The handler entered the Indonesian air cargo market through a joint venture with Jakarta-based UNEX Aviation Services and moved into Colombia by acquiring Giraldo Hermanos International (GHI). Taken together, the three moves extend Swissport's reach across Europe, Southeast Asia and South America within a single month.

The choice of EuroAirport matters commercially. The bi-national airport sits on the French-Swiss border and serves the Basel, Mulhouse and Freiburg catchment, giving carriers a single handling point with access to both Swiss and French infrastructure — and, with the new French customs zone, to formal entry into the French market without a separate station.

For airlines, the immediate practical effect is a second licensed cargo handler with standardised processes at a congested cross-border gateway. For Swissport, the operation provides a base from which to pitch ground services and hospitality products in France, as Stefani indicated, should the cargo venture establish itself.

Much depends on whether the new entity converts its Basel parentage into airline contracts. The handler has not disclosed customers or volume targets for the French operation, so its contribution to the group's 5-million-tonne annual throughput remains unmeasured for now. With the Basel team providing operational cover during ramp-up, the venture's development into a broader French platform is the question the next few quarters will answer.