Swissport's plans for 'Aspire' branded lounges in Italy. Interview with CEO Marina Bottelli

Swissport Is the world's largest provider of airport services, a term that refers to check-in operations and the handling of departing and arriving luggage, but also to the mobilization of goods. Count 62,000 employees, has a presence at 279 airports in 45 countries of all continents And in 2024 serviced 247 million passengers And processed 5 million tons of cargo.

His activities include., the one that may be of most interest to readers of The Flight Club is. The implementation and management of the 'Aspire' airport lounges., a brand that is owned by Swissport headed by a hundred lounges in 22 countries around the world and into which 6 million guests entered in 2024.

In Italy, Swissport arrived as an airport handler in 2022, through the purchase of Alitalia Ground Services, initially operating at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate and now only at the two Milan airports (at Malpensa it recently opened its dedicated cargo facility).

Its presence in the Italian airport scene has become even more visible to travelers since last September 15, when Venice's 'Marco Polo' airport saw the official opening of the first Aspire-branded lounge in Italy (after a 'soft opening' occurred in August).

Heading the Italian structure of Swissport Italy in the role of CEO since 2022 is Marina Bottelli, who at Swissport has held various positions in Europe and Africa since 2015, whom we asked about the company's plans for lounges at Italian airports.

First of all, given the deficit situation of all Italian airports as far as VIP lounges are concerned, I ask you why did you start from Venice in the first place?
"The opening of the 'Aspire Executive Club' stems from a meeting with Save, the management company of 'Marco Polo,' which wanted to expand the spaces dedicated to premium hospitality within the terminal. This is Italy's first pop-up lounge, a temporary space that will last nine months and therefore did not require a tender."

How long does it take to make a lounge?
"It can take months, but we in Venice did everything in three to four weeks, partly because there where the lounge is before there was a business center."

Why is it placed before the security checks?
"First, because that was the only space available immediately, and then because both we and Save wanted something that was open to nontravelers."

How does one enter the Aspire Executive Lounge in Venice?
"By paying a fee of 49 euros or with one of the enabled cards, which include Priority Pass and Dragon Pass."

At the end of nine months what will happen?
"We will do with Save an evaluation of what we want to consider an experiment. And then we will see what to do. Save has an important terminal development project, so the experience we are having now will also serve for future collaborations. Keeping in mind, however, that the allocation of airport spaces, not only those dedicated to lounges, is always done through a tender."

And are there any open at the moment in Italy?
"Not at the moment. But there are some in sight at Milan Linate and Malpensa as well."

Are there any cities/airports you are looking at with particular interest?
"We are attentive to all opportunities that arise, but I would say that we are about 10 airports in Italy with potential both in terms of traffic and in terms of present or future terminal space such as to support the opening of one or more lounges."

What is the hallmark of Aspire lounges, if you had to identify one...?
"Which are the result of listening to our guests, because we work by analyzing the more than 100,000 responses they give to our questionnaires each year."

• aspire
• Lounge
• marina bottelli
• swissport