Swissport has broadened its operational footprint within Saudi Arabia by commencing services at Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, located in Al-Ula (ULH). Marking the addition of a new locale to its expanding Saudi network, Swissport’s inaugural operation was to service a flight originating from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, flown by Royal Jordanian.
The aviation ground services and air cargo handling giant, Swissport, will now extend its expertise to offer passenger and ramp handling for Royal Jordanian flights at Al-Ula. Initially, the collaboration will see the handling of two weekly flights connecting Amman and Al-Ula. With an eye on the future, Swissport anticipates a surge in flight operations across the Kingdom as airlines broaden their reach or enhance service frequency.
We are delighted to be able to offer our high-quality aviation services at Al-Ula and are honored by the trust our launching customer Royal Jordanian places in us,
expressed Chris Browne, CEO of Swissport Saudi Arabia. With Al-Ula becoming Swissport’s sixth airport within the Kingdom, this move underscores Swissport’s strategic dedication to expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia.
Dirk Goovaerts, the company’s CEO for Continental Europe, Middle East, and Africa, shares the vision, emphasizing the joint ambitions with ASYAD Holding, their Saudi joint-venture partner, to propel the Kingdom’s aviation sector to the forefront, aligning with the transformative Saudi Vision 2030.
The historical city of Al-Ula, renowned for its Arabian oasis and market town legacy on the Incense Route, is rapidly transforming into a significant tourism hub in Saudi Arabia, famed for its stunning landscapes of cliffs, gorges, and wadis. In the year 2023 alone, the airport at Al-Ula welcomed an influx of over two million travelers.
Swissport’s presence in Saudi Arabia traces back to 2016, commencing in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Since then, the company has seen substantial growth, evolving from a nascent startup to a well-established entity serving a diverse clientele of regional and international airlines.
In 2023, Swissport’s Saudi Arabian operations experienced remarkable growth, servicing 7.7 million passengers, a 49 percent increase from the previous year, and managing approximately 28,000 flights, marking a 39 percent rise from 2022.