On 25 April 2023, Genève Aéroport awarded a concession to each of the two companies - Swissport International SA and Aviapartner SAS - for the operation of ground handling services for scheduled and charter air traffic at the airport, following a tender process. These concessions will take effect on 1er November 2023 for a period of seven years. The award of these two concessions is subject to appeal.
Among the five candidates who submitted an application, the companies Swissport International SA and Aviapartner SAS won the call for tenders launched by Genève Aéroport for the award of the two concessions for the operation of ground handling services for scheduled and charter air traffic at Geneva Airport. An external auditing firm accompanied Genève Aéroport in this tender process.
According to the applicable legal framework, concessions are granted for a maximum of seven years and are subject to a tender process. The last tender for concessions for the operation of ground handling services for scheduled air traffic was launched in October 2015 and the results announced in March 2016.
At Genève Aéroport, ground handling services for scheduled and charter air traffic cover various services. In addition to handling passengers, baggage and freight at flight arrivals and departures, there are numerous services in contact with the aircraft: towing, push-back, jetbridge management, de-icing, loading and unloading of bunkers, emptying of toilets and supply of drinking water, cabin cleaning, etc.
At present, the two specialised companies that meet the professional and social criteria set for these tasks represent around 1500 employees.
The granting of these two concessions by Genève Aéroport is not subject to any financial compensation (e.g. payment of a fee on the concessionaire's turnover, etc.).
The award of the two licenses can be appealed to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). In addition, the award rules provide that the newly appointed providers undertake to comply with the legal framework applicable in the event of a transfer of employment relationships and thus to take over the staff of the outgoing providers.