Wisag Challenges License Loss at Frankfurt Flughafen

The License Controversy

Wisag Aviation has recently lost its ground service license at Frankfurt Flughafen, leading to significant changes in operations. The company is planning to file legal action against the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Traffic's decision. According to a Wisag spokesperson, it is common to review such outcomes after tenders.

Employee Retention Efforts

Wisag is also focused on retaining its workforce. Approximately 600 employees currently engaged in the affected aircraft handling sector will be reassigned to other roles at the airport. Overall, Wisag employs around 1500 personnel across various services, including passenger assistance and aircraft cleaning, which remain unaffected by the license issues.

Swissport's Transition Plans

In the meantime, Warwick Brady, CEO of Swissport International, has expressed intentions to ensure a smooth transition by February 1, 2025. The goal is to provide job security for current ground handling staff and maintain high service quality for airline clients. It remains unclear whether Swissport will assume operations and staff through a statutory business transfer, a common practice in such situations.

Investment in Sustainable Equipment

Frankfurt will become Swissport's largest site in Germany and a key location in Europe. The company plans to deploy electric vehicles for ground handling and support Fraport's initiative to eliminate carbon emissions on the ground effectively. Swissport has committed at least €25 million to new electric equipment, contributing to sustainable operations at Frankfurt Flughafen.