Airport Handling, a majority-owned subsidiary of dnata, has been awarded a 7-year ground handling license by Aeroporti di Roma and will establish operations at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO).

The company is targeting to launch operations in the Italian capital in the second quarter of 2024 and has already committed an investment of over €20 million to purchase new ground support equipment (GSE), including advanced electric vehicles.

Airport Handling’s expansion into Rome further strengthens its position as a leading air services provider in Italy. A trusted partner of over 60 airlines, the company’s dedicated teams already handle more than 22 million passengers and 82,000 flights each year at the two airports in Milan, Malpensa (MXP) and Linate (LIN).

Airport Handling plans to hire over 1,800 aviation professionals at FCO, which will be led by the locally recruited senior management team.

“We are proud to have secured operating license at another leading Italian airport as a result of a highly competitive tender process,” commented Alberto Morosi, CEO of Airport Handling.

“Expanding into Rome Fiumicino is a significant milestone that aligns with our growth strategy and underlines our commitment to consistently enhancing our operations.