Swissport International, the world’s leading aviation services provider across ground operations, air cargo, and airport hospitality, has signed a binding agreement to acquire Swiftair Maroc, a Casablanca-based cargo handling company operating at Mohammed V Airport, Morocco’s primary air freight hub which handles approximately 95 percent of the country’s total air cargo volumes.
Swiftair Maroc operates a 3,700 sqm airside warehouse at the airport. The facility includes dedicated temperature-controlled infrastructure, with specialized cold rooms for pharmaceutical products and perishable goods.
“Morocco is a dynamic and fast-growing market with increasing importance in global trade flows,” said Warwick Brady, President and CEO of Swissport International. “The acquisition of Swiftair Maroc supports our strategy to further expand and accelerate the growth of our global cargo business. As a pivotal gateway between Europe, Africa and the Americas, Morocco supports strong export industries such as automotive, aerospace, agriculture and textiles, while also facilitating critical imports. At the same time, this agreement strengthens our cargo capabilities in the region and enhances our ability to support customers with efficient, high-quality logistics solutions.”
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Salvador Moreno, Founder and CEO of Swiftair, said: “We are proud to have built a highly successful operation in Morocco. The disposal is part of Swiftair’s strategy to exit non-core activities and further strengthen its leadership in the air cargo market. It has been a pleasure to work alongside our business partners at Swiftair Maroc. Swissport is well positioned to support the company’s next phase of development, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration as one of its key customers in the country.”
Morocco’s air cargo market has experienced steady growth, driven by the country’s expanding export base and strategic geographic position. Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport serves as the backbone of these flows, connecting Moroccan industries to global markets and supporting time-sensitive supply chains.
The acquisition also builds on Swissport’s established presence in Morocco, where the company already operates across multiple business lines. Swissport Maroc currently provides ground handling services at 16 airports nationwide, operates executive aviation (FBO) services in Marrakesh, Casablanca and Tangier and manages 10 airport lounges across nine locations under its Aspire brand. The addition of cargo handling capabilities represents a natural next step in strengthening Swissport’s integrated service offering in Morocco.
Against the backdrop of the country’s preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Swissport sees significant long-term potential in its aviation and logistics sectors, supported by continued infrastructure investment and rising international connectivity.
“Swiftair Maroc provides a strong platform for expanding our cargo business in Morocco,” said Dirk Goovaerts, CEO Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa, India & Global Cargo Chair at Swissport. “Combined with our local expertise and global airline partnerships, we see clear opportunities to increase capacity and further strengthen our capabilities in high-value and specialized cargo handling. This investment reflects our continued commitment to Morocco and the wider African market, while supporting our strategy to build an integrated aviation services offering across our key markets.”
The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.
