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Swissport Belgium announced today that it is filing for bankruptcy for baggage handling and cleaning at Zaventem airport. The company refers to the worldwide collapse of the market due to the corona pandemic as an explanation for the bankruptcy. 

The company is the largest baggage handler at Brussels Airport. Its main client is Brussels Airlines. Well-informed sources report that the company has been in financial difficulties for some time. The company saw its earnings dry up rapidly since Brussels Airlines discontinued its offer in mid-March due to the corona crisis. According to From Tijd came a lifebuoy from the Swiss mother house that saved the Belgian branch from bankruptcy shortly afterwards. Swissport then appointed a new CEO, asked for state aid from the Belgian government and unsuccessfully attempted to renegotiate the loss-making contract with Brussels Airlines. 

"After years of providing financial support to our loss-making Belgian groundhandling services and several failed attempts to turn the business around, we have to conclude that there were no viable options and no positive prospects on the horizon," said CEO Eric Born.

In total 1.469 jobs are at risk. The air freight department will remain active. The bankruptcy is bad news for the 1.309 employees at the company and for the 160 people at Swissport Belgium Cleaning. The application for bankruptcy at the Dutch-speaking corporate court in Brussels concerns the ground handling services at Brussels Airport, Swissport said. Swissport Cargo Services Belgium NV, a separate legal entity, is not involved in the bankruptcy and is continuing its air freight activities at the airports of Brussels and Liège.

Read also  Clear way for equal employment conditions in air freight

Also read: It is the day of truth for Brussels Airlines

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