In aviation, no two days are the same. And at Swissport, our people live for the buzz of the airport and the dynamic spirit needed to make global air travel happen.
This is the mindset Airport Regional Manager Rodrigo brings to his role every day. Managing four key stations across Brazil, Rodrigo oversees the complex operations that keeps airlines punctual, and passengers in the LATAM region connected.
In this month’s Meet the Faces Behind Swissport, we speak to Rodrigo and learn about his unique journey supporting operations at some of Brazil’s largest airports, through major events such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
Ramp Coordination for the World Cup and Olympics
A veteran of Swissport, Rodrigo began his journey with the company in 2009. Drawing on his experience in the airline sector, he progressed through roles as Ground Handling Coordinator and later Station Supervisor at Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro.
This experience put Rodrigo in charge of operations during two of Brazil’s landmark sporting events: the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Reflecting on this, he described them as “unforgettable experiences that demanded intense coordination, and flexibility”.
Managing peak demand for these special occasions requires careful planning, coordinating staffing and equipment movements that can increase airport capacity by 60% overnight. “It’s all about planning, discipline, and teamwork,” he says, describing how departments unite to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.
Managing Regional Operations in Brazil
After seven years in Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo progressed to a Station Manager role, which developed further into a Regional Manager position with oversight of four major airports in Brazil’s busiest cities. Today, his typical day involves analyzing performance indicators, meeting with clients and teams, and overseeing operations.
Progressing his career in this way has given Rodrigo the opportunity to grow through some unique leadership roles. “This gave me a 360° view of the business. Each stage brought new learnings, overseeing operations, performance, finances to customer relations”.
Life at Swissport
Swissport is united by its company culture. While we operate in 45 countries, our resilience and ability to adapt in the ever-changing circumstances of global aviation brings employees together all over the world. Rodrigo feels and lives by this mindset at work.
For him, Swissport isn’t just an employer, it’s a passion. “We’re the ones doing the magic behind the scenes,” he says. “While airlines connect people to destinations, we make it possible.”
The greatest challenge in his Regional Manager role, Rodrigo tells us, is “aligning different teams and realities under a consistent standard of quality and safety.” However, he adds that the biggest reward is “seeing people grow, watching leaders evolve, stations exceed their goals, and customers recognize the value of our work”.
Leadership by Example
In his 12-year career with Swissport, Rodrigo has learned the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and leadership by example. His philosophy focuses on improving processes rather than finding fault: “It’s important to shape our processes in a way that helps our teams succeed”.
Rodrigo represents Swissport’s commitment to professional growth, completing an MBA and pursuing another in aviation innovation management. “Continuous learning has always been part of me. I believe that knowledge fuels progress, both personal and organizational”, Rodrigo adds. His advice to future leaders? “Lead with purpose and empathy, and results will follow”.
Away from the Airport
Rodrigo adds that despite his composed nature when managing complex regional operations, he enjoys a good laugh with his team. Swissport is a people business, and those organic connections make a real difference.
Outside of work, Rodrigo enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures, and spending time with family. He aspires to one day visit Swissport’s main base of operations in Zurich to see the roots of our global network.
Rodrigo is a true Swissport enthusiast. “I owe a lot of things to Swissport that I have in my life and for the opportunities that I have been given in this company.”
Our Meet The Faces Series
Stay tuned for more stories in our Meet the Faces Behind Swissport series, where we showcase the incredible people behind our business. Want to see what life at Swissport is like? Visit Our People to learn more.
