Swissport acquires Aruba’s Aviation Ground Services in latest expansion in the Dutch Caribbean

At the beginning of this year, Swissport has finalized the acquisition of AGS Aviation Ground Services in Aruba and assumes the Dutch Caribbean company’s ground handling operations at Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad (AUA).

With the acquisition of AGS Aviation Ground Services, a ground handling services company first incorporated in Aruba in 1991, Swissport extends its service portfolio on the Caribbean island to include airport ground services and aviation security services. The consolidation of the Dutch Caribbean company with Swissport also adds a dozen new international carriers from North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean region to the Swiss aviation service provider’s network of global airline customers.

“Following significant regional growth in the previous year, Swissport looks forward to strengthening its footprint in the Caribbean with the acquisition of Aviation Ground Services,” said Rene Pascua, Swissport’s Head and Managing Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The expansion in Aruba uniquely positions Swissport as the ground services provider of choice for all of the Dutch islands in the Leeward Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.”

The acquisition of AGS Aviation Ground Services comes on the heels of Swissport’s purchase of Bonaire Air Services and the assumption of ground handling operations at Flamingo International Airport in 2021. Prior to 2021, Swissport provided ground handling at Curaçao International Airport. The new ground handling services in Aruba is an expansion of Swissport’s existing operations at Queen Beatrix International Airport, where the Swiss services provider currently maintains an air cargo warehouse established over 50 years ago.