Ground handler Swissport is entering the Colombian market through the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International (GHI).
The handler said the acquisition of a majority stake would expand its presence in Latin America where it currently operates at 85 airports across 15 countries.
GHI has a presence at Bogotá and Medellín, where it provides air cargo and passenger handling as well as other services.
The company serves customers, including Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo and FedEx.
Rene Pascua, Swissport’s chief executive for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that several of its key international customers were keen for the company to enter Colombian market.
“This expansion is part of Swissport’s strategy to broaden its footprint in large, fast-growing aviation markets, enhancing its ability to support airline customers across the region,” Swissport said.
The handler pointed out that Colombia has the second-largest international airfreight market in South America.
The country is particularly significant for time-sensitive exports such as flowers, while trade between Colombia and the US represented the region’s largest international air cargo flow, with 500,000 tons transported in 2025.
Swissport International president and chief executive Warwick Brady said: “Colombia is a strategically important, high-growth market for Swissport, and GHI has established a strong operational platform from which we can grow together.
“We are delighted to partner with the GHI team as we expand in Colombia, strengthening our ability to support our existing airline customers and their operations across the region.”
GHI chief executive Francisco Giraldo added: “This partnership brings together GHI’s strong local knowledge and established operations with Swissport’s global capabilities, creating an exciting platform for our customers, employees and partners and supporting the continued development of our industry in Colombia.”
The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
The company has been busy expanding its presence across the globe this year. In June, Swissport entered the Chinese market with the start of operations at the Digital & Intelligent International Cargo Terminal at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
And in May, the handler entered the Moroccan cargo market through the purchase of Swiftair Maroc, a cargo handling company operating at Mohammed V Airport, which is Morocco’s primary airfreight hub and handles approximately 95% of the country’s total air cargo volumes.
Facts Only
* Swissport entered the Colombian market via the acquisition of Giraldo Hermanos International (GHI).
* The acquisition aims to expand Swissport's presence in Latin America.
* GHI has operations in Bogotá and Medellín, providing air cargo and passenger handling services.
* Customers served by GHI include Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Turpial Airlines, Solar Cargo, and FedEx.
* Colombia is the second-largest international airfreight market in South America.
* The trade between Colombia and the US represented 500,000 tons of international air cargo flow in 2025.
* Swissport's strategy involves broadening its footprint in large, fast-growing aviation markets.
* Swissport views Colombia as a strategically important, high-growth market.
* GHI combined local knowledge with Swissport’s global capabilities in the partnership.
* Swissport previously entered the Chinese market in June and the Moroccan cargo market in May.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The narrative frames expansion through strategic acquisition as a necessary method for accessing high-growth aviation markets, positioning the transaction not just as operational growth but as a geopolitical and logistical maneuver. The focus on Colombia's role as a critical airfreight corridor—especially concerning time-sensitive exports and US trade flows—suggests that market access is intrinsically linked to regional economic strategy rather than purely commercial logistics. The interplay between GHI's local knowledge and Swissport's global capabilities exemplifies the dynamic of leveraging local infrastructure for international expansion; this suggests that successful entry into complex markets requires a fusion of deep on-the-ground operational understanding and broad external reach. The pattern observed is the use of specific, high-volume trade statistics (e.g., 500,000 tons) to establish the significance of the market before detailing the business transaction, creating an implicit justification for the expansion. The implication is that in global logistics, physical control over routes and local operational depth translates directly into strategic market influence and growth potential.
BRIDGE QUESTIONS: What are the long-term structural dependencies created by this partnership between the regional operator (GHI) and the global integrator (Swissport)? How does the emphasis on time-sensitive exports affect future investment priorities in Colombian air cargo infrastructure? What other geographical or trade corridors should be examined to assess the broader strategic context of Swissport's expansion in Latin America?