DHL Supply Chain has been appointed ground handling partner for SAS Scandinavian Airlines at Manchester Airport under a new three-year agreement. DHL will support up to five SAS flights a day, covering baggage operations, customer service, aircraft loading, dispatch and pushback for flights linking the UK with Scandinavia and SAS' wider network.

DHL Supply Chain UKI is part of Germany-headquartered DHL Group, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker: DHL). The Group reported full-year 2025 revenue of 82.9 billion euros and operating profit (EBIT) of 6.1 billion euros.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines is headquartered in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden, and is owned by a consortium including Air France-KLM, the Danish state, Castlelake and Lind Invest. In its most recent annual report, covering November 2023 to October 2024, SAS reported revenue of 45.9 billion Swedish kronor (around 4.06 billion euros) and an operating loss of 2.1 billion kronor.

The new Manchester operation was mobilised within 30 days, with DHL saying the transition was completed while maintaining service continuity for SAS passengers.

The agreement builds on DHL Supply Chain's existing UK ground handling business, which has served easyJet at Manchester since 2019 and at London Gatwick since 2017, and added Air France at Gatwick earlier this year. The SAS contract extends that third-party ground handling portfolio to a second Scandinavian and international carrier group at a UK airport.

"We're delighted to be partnering with SAS at Manchester Airport," said David Johnson, interim managing director, Healthcare & Specialist Logistics, DHL Supply Chain UKI. "Mobilising a new operation in just 30 days required a huge team effort and demonstrates the agility and expertise of our aviation teams."

"Manchester is an important gateway for SAS, connecting customers across the UK with Scandinavia and our wider international network," said Hans Henrik Spangenberg, managing director of SAS Ground Handling International.

For the sector, the deal reflects continued consolidation of ground handling services among large third-party logistics providers as international carriers seek reliable partners at UK airports.

Source: Aviation Pros / DHL Group / SAS Group