Swissport Australia has defended its safety credentials, accusing the Transport Workers Union (TWU) of attempting to damage public confidence in the nation’s aviation industry during a fresh industrial campaign.
The aviation ground handling giant says it now boasts one of the strongest safety records in the Australian sector, pointing to significant reductions in workplace injuries and aircraft damage as more airlines outsource ground operations to specialist providers.
According to Swissport, recordable injuries have dropped 56 per cent over the past five years since airlines transferred ground handling operations to the company, while lost time injuries are down 43 per cent compared to airlines’ previous in-house operations.
The company also highlighted what it described as a dramatic improvement in aircraft handling performance for Qantas services, claiming aircraft damage incidents had fallen from 0.8 events to fewer than 0.2 per 1,000 flights — a four-fold improvement over historic airline-managed operations.
Swissport Australia CEO Tony Filacouridis said the global aviation industry was increasingly moving towards specialist ground handling models so airlines could focus on core flying operations.
“Swissport has one of the best safety records of any specialist ground handling company in Australia as we have the hardest working and safety conscious workforce in the country,” he said.
“This is why we are proud to say we have the lowest traffic safety infringement notices at major capital city airports compared to Ground Handler competitors.
“A recent Swissport staff engagement survey found an overwhelming majority of our employees believe that Swissport prioritises working safely.
“In addition, Swissport’s current enterprise agreement has pay and other conditions that are above the industry-wide Award.
“Our enterprise agreement was supported by Swissport employees and approved by the Fair Work Commission, providing a more favourable outcome compared to other ground handlers who pay according to the Award.”
Renewed scrutiny
The comments come amid renewed scrutiny of aviation labour practices and safety standards, with unions continuing to raise concerns about outsourcing and workforce conditions across Australia’s airport network.
Swissport claims only around 10 per cent of its Australian workforce are TWU members, something Filacouridis says explains the union’s latest actions, including protests staged at Canberra Airport.
“Today’s TWU protest at Canberra Airport should be seen for what it is, a desperate pitch for new members, which the union is struggling to achieve,” he said.
“At a time when global air travel and cargo are challenged by insecure fuel supplies, the rest of the aviation industry is seeking to work together to help airlines and the Australian travelling public.
“Swissport workers are proud of the safety culture they have created and the TWU is attempting to undermine them.”
Ground handling has become one of the most critical — and often least visible — parts of the aviation supply chain. The sector is responsible for hundreds of operational tasks that keep airports moving, from aircraft towing and baggage handling to inflight catering, passenger check-in, lounge operations and cargo loading.
Swissport says outsourced aviation ground handlers now account for around 80 per cent of all airport ground operations globally, with airlines increasingly stepping away from managing these services directly.
The company argues that without aviation ground handlers, aircraft simply cannot operate.
Swissport currently employs around 3,500 staff in Australia and operates globally across approximately 300 airports in 49 countries. Worldwide, the company handles 247 million airline passengers annually, processes five million tonnes of air freight, and serves 6.2 million airport lounge customers each year.
The escalating war of words between unions and outsourced aviation operators comes as the broader aviation industry faces mounting operational pressures, rising passenger demand and ongoing global supply chain uncertainty.
