The Argentine government officialized this week the opening of the airport ground handling services market, which until now was limited to the state-owned Intercargo, or allowed airlines to self-handle (an option taken several years ago by Aerolíneas Argentinas, American Airlines, and Flybondi).
As we published in another article earlier today, the «Regulation for Obtaining the Ground Handling Certificate» was released, for companies wishing to provide ramp or handling services.
In response to a query from Aviacionline about how they view these changes in the market, Swissport, one of the major global players in airport services, stated that they « the liberalization of the airport ground handling market in Argentina.»
«We believe that increased competition benefits not only the aviation industry of Argentina but also airline passengers, driving improvements in service quality, cost-efficiency, and innovation. Competition also ensures that high standards are maintained in critical areas such as safety, reliability, and operational excellence,» the company added.
They also emphasized their enthusiasm for opportunities that may arise to expand their footprint in Argentina, looking forward to participate in upcoming tender processes as the market opens.
Currently, Swissport is present at five Argentine airports, providing passenger services, aviation security, VIP lounge services, and hospitality. Their network employs 640 people at the airports of Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Buenos Aires/Aeroparque, and Buenos Aires/Ezeiza.
Flybondi was the first company to take advantage of this new stage in the airport handling market, having obtained its license last week to provide services to other airlines. Initially, this same path could be followed by Aerolíneas Argentinas (with Aerohandling) and American Airlines.
