Korean operates three weekly B747 freighter services to and from Schiphol, in addition to three weekly passenger services that also carry cargo into and out of Schiphol Airport. Swissport will take over the cargo handling at its Schiphol Airport airside facility from 1st May on behalf of Korean.
John Batten, Executive Vice President for Global Cargo at Swissport International, commented: 'We are very pleased to begin working with Korean Air Cargo at Schiphol, and this agreement will provide a significant boost to our volumes. Korean is a world-class airline, and we are looking forward to applying our own world-class processes to maximising the efficiency of its cargo handling operations at Schiphol.'
Korean is the largest in a number of new cargo customers for Swissport at Amsterdam this year, with the others including MNG Airlines, FlyBe, South American Airways, Germania, Sky Airlines, Gabon Airlines, Finnair, Stabo Air, Middle East Airlines, Imperial Cargo Airlines and a trucking partnership with Egypt Air Cargo.
Another key customer, Jade Cargo International, is also set to return to Amsterdam shortly. The Shenzhen-based B747 freighter operator suspended flights on 30th December in order to restructure its financial arrangements, and a restructuring agreement has now been reached with fellow Chinese logistics and transport company UniTop Group.
Wouter Brand, Managing Director for Swissport Cargo Services in The Netherlands, commented: 'It has been a difficult start of the year for Swissport Cargo Services in The Netherlands, and I am therefore very encouraged by the level of new contract wins. It is also very pleasing to see Jade Cargo International returning to Schiphol, and we look forward to resuming our successful handling partnership.'
