What Ladybird does

Ladybird (legal entity: LADYBIRD GROUND SERVICES) is a French aviation services company founded in 2000 that provides aircraft cabin cleaning, appearance management, and hygiene services to airlines operating at French airports. The company serves approximately 50 airlines spanning flag carriers, low-cost carriers, and charter operators, delivering services either through direct B2B contracts or as a subcontractor to major ground handling companies (WFS, Menzies, Air France Industries, Alyzia, Groupe Europe Handling). Operations are conducted across four major French commercial airports: Paris Charles De Gaulle (the primary base under multiple sub-brands), Paris Orly (since 2008), Lyon St-Exupéry (since 2012), and Nice Côte d'Azur (since 2014, the only site offering aircraft anti-icing).

The company's service portfolio includes cabin appearance management and hygiene protocols, exterior waterless dry polishing, disinfection and bio-cleaning (including emergency response for Covid and bedbug infestations), Clean & Search security inspections, Fournisseur Habilité (FHa) authorized cabin equipment loading, cargo hold cleaning, and bio-cleaning of premises and vehicles. Service delivery is coordinated through the Quart Régulation Ladybird, a centralized 24/7 Operations Control Center that manages real-time operations across all sites. The company holds FHa certification from the French Civil Aviation Authority, enabling compliant cabin stock management under strict aviation security standards.

Ladybird operates as a subsidiary under the financial umbrella of Avico Group, which guarantees the company's long-term sustainability and funds major capital investments. Revenue is generated through professional services contracts negotiated on a per-engagement basis with airline procurement and operations teams, with annual revenue exceeding €30 million. The business model is asset-light in proprietary technology but capital-intensive in specialized cleaning equipment, trained personnel, and regulatory credentials, with competitive positioning anchored in regulatory certifications, geographic density at France's largest airports, and embedded operational integration with airline ground operations.

Name

Ladybird

Legal name

LADYBIRD GROUND SERVICES

Website

https://ladybird.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ladybird is a French aviation services company providing aircraft cabin cleaning, exterior polishing, bio-cleaning, and security inspection services to approximately 50 airlines across four major French airports (Paris CDG, Orly, Lyon, Nice), operating as a subsidiary of Avico Group with annual revenue exceeding €30 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Ground Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (48819)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Cabin Cleanliness, Waste Management & Sanitation (THABAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Flight Operations Support (Cabin Logistics, Loading, Inventory) (THABAMAJ), Ground Handling (Ramp, Baggage, Turnaround) (THABAIAC)

Keywords

• Aircraft cabin cleaning
• Aircraft exterior detailing
• Aviation hygiene services
• Airport ground handling
• Aircraft de-icing

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Appearance & Cabin Cleaning Services: Ladybird earns revenue by providing contracted aircraft cabin cleaning, appearance management, exterior polishing, hygiene protocols, and security inspections to airlines, either through direct contracts or as a subcontractor to handling companies. Services are delivered around-the-clock across Paris CDG, Paris Orly, Lyon St-Exupéry, and Nice Côte d'Azur airports.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Ladybird Ground Services provides aircraft appearance management, cabin hygiene, and exterior detailing services to commercial airlines at four major French airports. Service offerings include cabin cleaning and hygiene protocols between flights, waterless exterior polishing, disinfection and bio-cleaning (including responses to health emergencies such as Covid and bedbug infestations), Clean & Search security inspections, technical cargo hold cleaning, and aircraft de-icing at Nice. Services are delivered through direct contracts with airlines and subcontracting arrangements with major airport handling companies, coordinated by a 24/7 Operations Control Center.

Product overview

Ladybird Ground Services is a French airport ground handling company founded in 2000, offering a coordinated suite of aircraft appearance management and cabin hygiene services. The portfolio is organized across multiple sub-brands differentiated by airport location and service tier: Ladybird Ground Services, Ladybird Green Services, Ladybird Premium Services, and Ladybird Cleaning Services at Paris CDG; Ladybird Air Services at Paris Orly; Ladybird Azur Services at Nice Côte d'Azur; and Ladybird Lyon Services at Lyon St-Exupéry. Services include cabin appearance management and hygiene protocols, cabin equipment/armament, exterior dry detailing, disinfection and bio-cleaning, security inspections (Clean & Search), cargo holds technical treatment, bio-cleaning of premises and vehicles, and aircraft de-icing. Services are coordinated through the Quart Régulation Ladybird (OCC) operating 24/7, and are offered to approximately fifty airlines through direct contracts or via handling partners. Annual revenue exceeds €30 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cabin Appearance Management & Hygiene Protocols Aircraft cabin cleaning, appearance management, and hygiene protocol service delivered between flights to maintain impeccable cabin standards, reduce allergens, and support premium passenger experience. Targeted at commercial airlines at French airports.
• Cabin Equipment Management (Fournisseur Habilité) Just-in-time stock management, batch conditioning, and onboard loading of cabin equipment in compliance with French Civil Aviation Authority security standards for authorized suppliers (Fournisseur Habilité). Targeted at commercial airlines requiring certified cabin stock handling.
• Waterless Exterior Aircraft Polishing Waterless exterior aircraft polishing using certified high-performance products that maintain airline brand image and reduce friction drag without polluting airport floors with contaminated water. Targeted at commercial airlines seeking sustainable exterior detailing.
• Disinfection, Disinsectisation and Bio-cleaning Specialized disinfection, pest control, and bio-cleaning protocols for aircraft cabins, cargo holds, premises, and vehicles, including response to health or biological emergencies (Covid, bedbug infestations). Targeted at commercial airlines and ground handling companies.
• Clean & Search Security Inspection Security inspection protocol performed in parallel with technical aircraft cleaning, ensuring strict compliance with airline security procedures through rigorously trained staff and supervisor oversight. Targeted at commercial airlines and handling companies requiring certified security personnel.
• Technical Cleaning of Cargo Holds and Spaces Bio-cleaning of aircraft cargo holds and technical spaces, delivered on the ramp or under hangar by trained and certified personnel. Targeted at commercial airlines and handling companies.
• Aircraft De-icing (Nice only) Aircraft anti-icing service offered exclusively at Nice Côte d'Azur airport. Targeted at commercial airlines requiring de-icing operations at this site.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual revenue exceeds €30 million, serving approximately 50 airlines across 4 French airports.

Named customers31 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Groupe Europe HandlingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLadybird provides aircraft appearance and cabin cleaning services on behalf of Groupe Europe Handling, a major airport ground handling company operating at French airports.
• WFS (World Flight Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLadybird provides aircraft appearance and cabin cleaning services on behalf of WFS, one of the world's largest airline handling companies, operating at French airports.
• MenziesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLadybird provides aircraft appearance and cabin cleaning services on behalf of Menzies, a major global ground handling company operating at French airports.
• Air France IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLadybird provides aircraft appearance and cabin cleaning services on behalf of Air France Industries, the MRO and ground handling arm of the Air France-KLM group, at French airports.
• AlyziaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLadybird provides aircraft appearance and cabin cleaning services on behalf of Alyzia, an airport services group operating at French airports.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Aviapartner: European-focused ground handling company providing cabin cleaning, ramp, and passenger services across multiple European airports including France. Comparable service mix and overlapping geography; broader portfolio and larger scale than Ladybird.
• dnata: Dubai-headquartered global airport services provider (part of Emirates Group) with extensive ground handling, including cabin cleaning and appearance services, across multiple geographies. Comparable scope of work but much larger portfolio and broader geographic footprint than Ladybird.
• WFS (World Flight Services): One of the world's largest air cargo and ground handling companies, providing cabin cleaning and aircraft appearance services globally. Already a customer and subcontracting channel partner of Ladybird; comparable services but vastly larger portfolio.
• Menzies Aviation: Major global ground handling company with cabin cleaning, aircraft appearance, and de-icing services across 200+ airports. Already a customer and channel partner of Ladybird; comparable service scope but operates at materially greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Swissport International: World's largest airport ground services provider, offering cabin cleaning and aircraft appearance services as part of a much broader portfolio across 300+ airports. Operates the same end-customer (airlines) with overlapping cabin-cleaning scope, but at far greater scale and geographic reach than Ladybird.
• Groupe Europe Handling: French airport ground handling company providing passenger, ramp, and aircraft cleaning services at French airports. Direct geographic overlap with Ladybird and serves the same airline customers via both direct contracts and as a channel partner to Ladybird.
• Air France Industries (AFI KLM E&M): MRO and ground handling arm of Air France-KLM, providing aircraft maintenance and cleaning services. Both a customer and competitor to Ladybird; offers overlapping cleaning scope as part of a much broader MRO/handling portfolio.
• Alyzia: French airport ground handling group providing passenger, ramp, and cabin cleaning services at French airports. Direct overlap with Ladybird on French airport territory; both serve the same end-customers (airlines) via similar direct and subcontracted channels.

Regional players

• Celebi Aviation Holding: Turkish ground handling company offering cabin cleaning, ramp, and cargo services across multiple geographies. Comparable service portfolio but primarily serves Turkey, Central Asia, and parts of Africa rather than France.
• SATS Ltd: Singapore-headquartered ground handling and in-flight catering company offering cabin cleaning and aircraft appearance services. Similar service scope but operates primarily across Asia-Pacific gateways rather than Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ladybirdavico
• Facebookfacebook.com/ladybird.avico
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ladybird-ground-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ladybird