The Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) has completed the selection procedure for the second ground handling service provider at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport. Aviation Ground Handling Services S.A., operating under the Aviapartner brand, has been selected for a period of seven years.

The decision covers two categories of ground handling services – baggage handling, classified as Category 3, and ramp handling, classified as Category 5. These operations include baggage processing as well as a range of activities related to aircraft handling on the apron.

The tender for the selection of a second provider was launched by the CCAA in March 2025. Under the rules applicable to Zagreb Airport, the number of providers for baggage handling and ramp handling services is limited to two. The same limitation also applies at Split/Sveti Jeronim Airport and Dubrovnik/Ruđer Bošković Airport.

Ground handling services in Zagreb are currently provided by Havaş Ground Handling Services, which took over MZLZ Ground Handling Services in 2022. In Zagreb, Havaş provides passenger and baggage services, ramp handling, cargo handling and other activities related to aircraft ground operations.

The selection of Aviapartner therefore introduces a second operator in two key segments of ground handling at Zagreb Airport, giving airlines a choice between two providers for these services.

Aviapartner is one of the leading independent ground handling providers in Europe and Africa, with operations at around 75 airports. The company has been active since 1949 and today operates in Angola, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Switzerland.

The group employs more than 18,000 people and serves the needs of more than 120 million passengers annually. Aviapartner provides a wide range of services to more than 500 passenger and cargo airlines, handling around 800,000 aircraft movements and approximately 300,000 tonnes of cargo each year.

In addition to traditional ground handling activities, Aviapartner operates airport lounges at seven airports in Europe and has developed its own IT capabilities to adapt services and operational processes to the requirements of individual airlines. Its operations are supported by a range of quality certifications, while the company has also received a number of airline awards.

According to the tender documentation, once the selection procedure has been completed, Međunarodna zračna luka Zagreb d.d., as the airport managing body, is to conclude a ground handling services agreement with the selected bidder.