Swissport is expanding into Indonesia through a strategic joint venture with Jakarta-based UNEX Aviation Services, marking the global aviation services provider’s entry into one of Southeast Asia’s largest aviation markets.
Under binding transaction agreements, Swissport will acquire a stake in UNEX Aviation Services as part of the partnership. The companies plan to use the joint venture as a platform to expand air cargo and ground-handling activities in Indonesia, with operations expected to extend beyond Jakarta to additional airports.
The transaction is the latest move in Swissport’s broader expansion strategy, following its recently announced entry into Colombia through the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International. Swissport has also expanded its activities in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and China during 2026.
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From cargo handling to broader aviation services
UNEX Aviation Services, established in 2003, operates from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, where it provides cargo warehousing and ground-handling services to domestic and international airlines.
UNEX’s own corporate history states that the company began providing air cargo warehousing services in 2004 and expanded into full ground handling for domestic and international customers in 2005. Its current activities include cargo warehousing, passenger handling and ramp handling.
The new partnership is intended to build on that local operating experience. Swissport and UNEX plan to broaden their combined offering to include air cargo, ramp handling and passenger services, while pursuing opportunities to operate at additional airports across Indonesia.
For Swissport, the agreement provides a local platform from which to develop its presence in the Indonesian market while combining its international operating capabilities with UNEX’s established knowledge of the country’s aviation environment.
Warwick Brady, President and CEO of Swissport International, said Indonesia’s geography and population make aviation particularly important to national connectivity and trade.
“This joint venture is a significant step in our successful strategy to expand our cargo business, while providing a strong platform to strengthen our ground-handling presence in Southeast Asia.”
Brady said the company would continue to consider mergers and acquisitions in markets where aviation is experiencing strong growth.
Indonesia’s strategic aviation market
Indonesia’s geography, comprising thousands of islands spread across a large area, makes air transport an important component of national connectivity.
Swissport said Indonesia recorded approximately 101 million domestic and international passengers in 2024, while airfreight volumes reached around 1 million tonnes.
The company also pointed to wider growth across the Asian aviation market. International traffic within Asia increased by 11.9% in 2025, while Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 8.4% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand during the same year.
Independent industry data supports the broader trend. IATA reported that Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 8.4% increase in international air cargo demand in 2025, the strongest regional growth rate during the year.
Expanding Swissport’s Asia-Pacific footprint
The Indonesian joint venture adds another market to Swissport’s growing Asia-Pacific network.
The company currently operates across markets including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, providing ground-handling and cargo services to airline customers. Swissport’s network now covers more than 300 airports globally.
Swissport said its Asia-Pacific operations handled approximately 25 million passengers, 632,000 flights and 450,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025, supported by around 10,000 employees.
At global level, the company reported handling 5.2 million tonnes of air freight and four million flights in 2025, alongside serving 243 million airline passengers.
The expansion into Indonesia therefore adds a significant Southeast Asian market to an existing regional network while supporting Swissport’s strategy of developing cargo and ground-handling capabilities in markets with growing aviation demand.
Combining global and local capabilities
Budiman Tedja, Founder and CEO of UNEX Aviation Services, said the partnership would provide the Indonesian company with access to Swissport’s international network and aviation expertise.
“Swissport’s global network, industry expertise and proven track record will help us expand our service offering, strengthen our operational capabilities and support the continued growth of Indonesia’s aviation sector.”
Tedja said the companies would look for opportunities to introduce additional services and solutions for airline and aviation customers.
The partnership also builds on UNEX’s existing international relationships. The company has previously partnered with dnata in Indonesia, including at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Cargo at the centre of the expansion
For Swissport, the Indonesian entry is particularly significant for its cargo business.
The company has been expanding its air cargo network throughout 2026, including the launch of operations at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, strengthening its presence at one of Asia’s major cargo gateways.
Swissport’s current global cargo portfolio includes general and special cargo, pharmaceutical handling, perishables, express services, forwarder handling and e-commerce.
The Indonesian market offers the company an opportunity to combine those capabilities with UNEX’s established local infrastructure and operational knowledge.
The parties have already signed binding transaction agreements. Further development of the joint venture will determine the pace at which Swissport expands its cargo, ramp and passenger operations beyond Jakarta.
A wider expansion strategy
The Indonesian agreement forms part of an active period of international expansion for Swissport.
In September, the company announced an agreement to enter Colombia through the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International. Earlier in the month, it announced an exclusive equity transaction with Saudi carrier flynas, while its 2026 expansion programme has also included new cargo operations in Shanghai and an expansion of its African cargo network.
The Indonesia joint venture consequently represents not only a new country entry, but another step in Swissport’s strategy of building its aviation-services network around markets where passenger and cargo activity is expanding.
