Swissport International has kicked off its operations as the first and only airport ground services provider upon the launch of international air traffic at Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a new airport in Tulum, Mexico. The airport will play a key role in developing high-end tourism on the Yucatan Peninsula.

In servicing flight AA1131 arriving from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) last Thursday, Swissport International helped launch international air traffic at Tulum (TQO), Mexico’s newest airport. The new airport was inaugurated in December of last year and initially started solely with domestic air traffic. Swissport, the global leader of airport ground services and air cargo handling is the first and only provider to handle international flights at Tulum. The opening of this second airport on the Riviera Maya – complementing Cancun – is a significant milestone that promises improved connectivity and accessibility for visitors and locals alike. Tulum is the 23rd airport in Swissport’s network in Mexico.

“We are enormously proud and honored that Tulum Airport and our valued airline customers trust us to be the pioneers on the ground when it comes to serving their passengers and aircraft at Mexico’s newest airport,” says Marcela Gaboda, CEO of Swissport in Mexico. “It shows once again that Swissport is the most trusted go-to partner for airlines and airports who want to be sure they get clockwork ground operations from day one.”

With a team of some 100 service professionals, Swissport in Tulum will provide passenger services and ramp handling to major carriers like American, COPA, Delta, United, Air Canada and JetBlue for more than 60 weekly flights initially. This number is set to increase as air traffic volumes to Tulum rise.

“Swissport plays a pivotal role in supporting the start-up of international aviation at Tulum Airport as the exclusive ground handling provider at this time,” says René Pascua, CEO Latin America and Caribbean of Swissport International AG. “The region has immense growth potential, and Swissport’s aviation expertise and market leading service quality will help support the development of tourism in the Riviera Maya and the aviation sector in Mexico as a whole.”

Swissport is a key player in Mexican aviation, supporting airlines from around the world for more than 20 years with airport ground services and air cargo handling. In 2023, a team of some 3,800 Swissport employees handled over 320,000 flights and served some 22.6 million passengers of 14 airlines at 23 airports across the country.