APAC F AIR CARG O WEEK


INSIDE SWISSPORT’S SHANGHAI HUB


BY Anastasiya SIMSEK 08 W ”It’s


developing at a rapid rate, the take-up from our customers has been tremendous.”


hen Swissport announced its entry into Shanghai earlier this year, it wasn’t just marking its arrival in China. It was securing a major foothold in one of the world’s most competitive and high-volume cargo markets—and doing so with a facility that positions


it at the leading edge of digital and operational infrastructure. “We’re not only entering China,” said Brad Moore, Swissport’s Head


of Asia Pacific, “we’re entering one of the biggest cargo warehouses in the world. At 150,000 sq m, it is a significant facility globally, not just locally within China.” For a company with ambitions to reshape how global airfreight


is handled and integrated, this is no small detail. The Shanghai operation, run in partnership with Smargo, offers a launchpad for scale, innovation, and data-led logistics. The most immediate strategic focus, Moore said, is e-commerce—


and more specifically, building the first end-to-end e-commerce product originating in China and extending across Swissport’s 300 stations in 46 countries. “Most of the e-commerce products that are transported through


the logistics framework originate in China,” he said. “For the first time, Swissport has the opportunity through the facility in Shanghai to put together an end-to-end e-commerce product that connects the logistics at source—which is in China—and throughout our network, to the destination globally.” This is not a casual development. While many handlers claim to


serve e-commerce through general cargo infrastructure, few have the operational footprint or IT architecture to offer true end-to-end handling—particularly at origin. “Swissport has a very sophisticated e-commerce product that


we have in place to support that industry throughout our network,” Moore explained. “That gives us a tremendous opportunity to provide a much better integrated service product than what our competitors do. Operators in the e-commerce industry can now have Swissport managing their logistics end to end.” In an environment where speed and visibility define value, that


positioning could make a critical difference for customers with cross-border e-commerce needs, particularly fashion, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.


Sustainability backed by automation and metrics Sustainability is another area where Moore is keen to demonstrate Swissport’s credentials. At a group level, Swissport has committed to converting 50 percent of its ground fleet to electric by 2032 and has


ACW 15 DECEMBER 2025 www.aircargoweek.com in categories like


received a platinum rating from EcoVadis, the global sustainability benchmark. But in Shanghai, the group is going further. “We have an electric fleet in Shanghai that is state of the art,”


Moore said. “Now it’s not only electric, but it’s self-automated, which means that


there are autonomous vehicles operating within the


facility, using AI technology.” This combination of electric vehicles and autonomy supports both


environmental goals and cost efficiency, he said. More importantly, it demonstrates to customers and regulators that sustainability efforts are operational, not just strategic. “It contributes significantly to our sustainability vision,” Moore


said. “It’s also a demonstration of our commitment to our participation in the net zero platform for the globe.” Moore also pointed to Swissport’s diversity goals and workforce


policies, noting that the company’s 60,000-strong workforce is a key area for ESG progress. “We’ve made commitments on gender, ethnicity, and representation


across our workforce globally,” he said. “Compared to our competitors or any other provider around the globe, by any measure, you’re going to find Swissport is the leader. It’s not only recognised by us, but it’s recognised by independent organisations.” Swissport’s move into China is part of a broader regional strategy


that has already seen the group shift its Asia Pacific headquarters from Sydney to Singapore. That move, Moore said, was a deliberate attempt to get closer to the region’s high-growth cargo markets. “We moved the regional office to Singapore about 18 months ago


because we wanted to move the centre of gravity of the region closer to Asia,” he said. “It gives us more access to different markets like China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.” “We had big aspirations in the region,” Moore said. “We didn’t move


the head office for nothing. It is really to expand our footprint and to give more customers the benefits of our product suite—that’s operational quality and, of course, innovation. We are in active discussions and hopeful


that there’ll be more announcements


forthcoming.” With automation in the warehouse, AI on the tarmac, and ambitions


for end-to-end e-commerce handling, Swissport is positioning itself as more than a service vendor. In markets like Shanghai, it is aiming to be the partner of record for cargo carriers, e-commerce platforms, and integrators alike. “As a ground service provider, we have to do more than just handle


freight,” he said. “We have to prove we can enable our customers to operate more safely, more efficiently, and more sustainably—and we have to do it with data, not promises.”

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