Flybe, Europe's largest and most successful regional airline and the United Kingdom's premier domestic airline, is to increase its relationship with Swissport, one of the world's largest airport service businesses with the award of three contracts for full ground handling.

The contracts at Newcastle and Birmingham Airports renew the existing business between the two companies, whilst at Gatwick Airport Flybe has awarded its business to Swissport for the first time. At all three airports, Swissport will provide full baggage handling and check-in services.

"In these challenging times for our industry it is very pleasing to secure not only the renewal of existing contracts with Flybe at Newcastle and Birmingham but also to win a new contract to manage the ground handling for the airline at Gatwick Airport," Mark Faulkner, Swissport CEO said. "I am grateful to all the Swissport team for providing an excellent service to Flybe over recent years at the existing bases and we look forward to working hard to service their needs at Gatwick."

Jonathan Breedon, Flybe’s Director of Customer Services comments: “Flybe is pleased to extend its successful relationship with Swissport. The company has served us well to date and we look forward to continuing to work with them into the future.”

The contracts are for a period of three years effective April 1, (London Gatwick, effective Sunday 29th March 2009 for the start of the 2009 Summer Schedule).