Swissport’s signing of the binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Columbian ground services company, Giraldo Hermanos International SAS (GHI), airport ground services and cargo handling provider, marks a further milestone in its strategic expansion: namely its first foothold in Colombia. GHI operates in Bogotá and Medellín, is licensed at all major Colombian airports, and offers passenger and cargo handling, reduced-mobility assistance, and equipment rental to clients such as Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo, and FedEx.
The deal adds another string to Swissport’s Latin American bow, where it is already present at 85 airports across 15 countries, and taps into Colombia’s position as South America’s second-largest domestic aviation market [after Brazil], with 57.5 million passengers in 2025 and the region’s busiest air corridor (Bogotá–Medellín). Colombia is also a key cargo hub – the second-largest international air freight market in the region – especially for flower exports, with 500,000 tons moved to the U.S. in 2025 alone.
Pending regulatory approval, Swissport and GHI will collaborate to enhance service quality and reliability for airlines and passengers across the country.
Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International, stated: “Colombia is 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.”
Francisco Giraldo, CEO of GHI, commented: “We are very proud to welcome Swissport as our new majority partner. […] This partnership brings together 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.”
Rene Pascua, Swissport’s CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean, added: “This acquisition is fully aligned with our regional growth strategy. Colombia presents attractive long-term prospects across aviation and cargo, and we are in active dialogue with several of our key international customers, who are keen for us to enter the market. By building on GHI’s existing platform and combining it with Swissport’s global network and best-in-class operational capabilities, we can support the continued development of the market, while creating value for our customers. We look forward to partnering with the GHI team and welcoming them into the global Swissport family.”
