In 2024, Swissport handled more than 5 million tons of freight across our 117 cargo centers worldwide. As a critical link within global supply chains, our air cargo services help keep the world moving. In this edition of Meet the Faces Behind Swissport, we sit down with Priscila, Global Operations Manager for Cargo, based in Zurich.
With more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Priscila brings a wealth of operational knowledge to Swissport. Originally from Brazil, she moved to Switzerland in 2018 to pursue an IATA-accredited Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Aviation Management from the University of Geneva.
Outside of work, Priscila enjoys running, spending time with friends and family, and learning to play the accordion. She’s also a former soccer player who brings the same energy and focus from the field into her daily work.
Priscila’s Aviation Career
She began her career in passenger and cargo management roles at TAM Airlines (nowadays known as LATAM) before joining Swissport as an Operational Key Account Manager in Brazil. She later became Head of Planning and eventually transitioned into a global cargo role.
“Each step in my career has broadened my perspective—from local country-specific challenges to global strategy and innovation. I’ve always found cargo fascinating—it’s a dynamic and essential part of the industry that often operates behind the scenes. I’m inspired to modernize and digitize cargo operations”.
With a passion for problem-solving and a deep understanding of operational strategy, Priscila is helping transform how our cargo warehouses operate—modernizing processes and fostering a culture of innovation across the network.
Leading global cargo innovation
In her current role, Priscila leads Swissport’s Cargo Quality initiatives and supports the rollout of digital solutions across our warehouses. She helps teams understand and meet service-level agreements (SLAs) while ensuring best practices and operational consistency.
Her proudest achievement to date? Successfully implementing the Cargospot Mobile program across 75 warehouses, which improved quality KPIs by 30% by capturing data directly at the source, Priscila says.
Priscila believes digital tools are the future of cargo operations. They play a crucial role in aligning Swissport’s operations with IATA Cargo IQ standards. With the integration of tools like Integrated Weighing Solution (IWS), the Cargo Customer Portal, and Power BI, day-to-day operations have become simpler and more efficient. Workflows are optimized, data accuracy is enhanced, and teams are empowered to take a proactive rather than reactive approach.
“The future of cargo operations is undoubtedly digital, data-driven, and customer-centric. We’re moving toward a world where real-time visibility, predictive capabilities, and technology enabled decision-making are the standard, not the exception.”
Embracing the Challenge of Change
When Priscila stepped into her global cargo role in 2019, she also stepped into one of the most complex challenges in any industry: change management.
Many teams had long relied on familiar manual processes, so phasing out the tried and trusted ‘pen and paper’ method in favor of mobile technology required trust-building and hands-on training to demonstrate the benefits of digital solutions. To compound this issue, Cargospot Mobile was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting the opportunities for on-site support.
To overcome this, Priscila and a global network of collaborators created multilingual training videos, test cases and user guides, and held virtual sessions to walk teams through real-world scenarios. These efforts have significantly reduced the number of days required during the onsite visit.
They also introduced adoption reports to identify where additional support was needed. By engaging in constructive dialogue with them, concerns and obstacles were addressed that helped iron out inefficiencies with the mobile technology.
“This feedback loop has helped us adjust the rollout by addressing specific issues and ensuring the technology truly supports operational realities. We listened, adapted, and worked together to make the technology work for everyone. Over time, we’ve seen growing confidence and genuine engagement”.
Priscila’s Life at Swissport
Reflecting on nearly 10 years with Swissport, Priscila told us what keeps her motivated is the opportunity to improve how people work.
“I love turning complexity into clarity,” she says. “Helping teams adopt smarter, more efficient ways of working is incredibly fulfilling”.
For Priscila, her work self is about being passionate and intentional in everything she does. She believes that when you align your work with your values and interests, it brings purpose and fulfilment to every challenge.
Overall, Priscila feels a sense of amazement and gratitude when reflecting on her career. She’s traveled extensively, relocating from Brazil to Switzerland in the process. She’s learned from impactful leaders and engaged with people from different cultures, facing a wide range of challenges and opportunities along the way.
But what is Priscila most grateful for? Meeting her life partner at Swissport.
