Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has increased its cargo handling capacity by 60% at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport with the opening of its fifth cargo terminal.
The new facility, inaugurated in a ceremony led by John Batten, CEO for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia (EMEAA) at WFS, and Humberto Castro, Managing Director of WFS in Spain & Italy, solidifies WFS’ position as Madrid’s largest independent cargo handling provider.
Covering 17,000 square metres, the terminal will cater to the needs of WFS’s expanding client base of 65 airline customers and offer opportunities for further growth. Over the past year, WFS has renewed contracts with major airlines like Air China, Air Europa, Etihad Airways, Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, and World2Fly, and secured new agreements with CMA CGM and TAAG Angola Airlines.
“It is a proud day for WFS to be opening another state-of-the-art cargo handling facility in the EMEAA region. New cargo terminals provide us with the opportunity to embrace our sustainability and digitalisation programmes from day one of the operation. This facility demonstrates our long-term commitment to Madrid and our current and future customers serving this growing airport,” John Batten said.
Humberto Castro added: “Madrid is strategically important to WFS as a premier European hub for Central and South America cargo volumes, as well as its easy connections for goods moving across the EU and to the Middle and Far East markets. It is also one of the preferred e-commerce destinations in Europe, which is an area of major growth today.
“Our continued investment at the airport shows WFS’s intention to remain the leading provider of cargo and ground services in Madrid and to remain a key part of the airport’s continued success.”
Since 1998, WFS has provided cargo, ground handling, and road feeder services to airlines in Madrid, continuously expanding and upgrading its infrastructure with previous terminal openings in 2001, 2018, and 2019. The new building, situated on a 12,500 square metre site with a 6,500 square metre warehouse, features 17 landside truck/van docks, 2 dedicated build-up pallet lanes, and advanced temperature-controlled facilities for pharmaceutical and perishable shipments, all supported by WFS’ GDP certification in Madrid.
The terminal operates on 100% renewable energy, powering LED lighting, warehouse climate control, and electric vehicle charging stations. Future plans include introducing Indoor AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) by the second half of 2024, enhancing operational efficiency with Cargospot mobile warehouse technology and the CargoKiosk digital system.
This new building is located alongside the main freighter parking area and close to Terminals 4 and 4S, shortening cargo transport times. It has also been designed to support WFS’ commitment to sustainability and digitisation.
The facility is powered by 100% renewable energy which provides the LED lighting supply, warehouse climatization, and electric battery chargers for cars and warehouse GSE. Indoor AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) will also be introduced in the second half of 2024. The facility uses Cargospot mobile warehouse technology, the CargoKiosk digital system to automate and expedite truck processing times, and a Warehouse Workflow Monitoring System to meet customer KPIs and ensure consistent levels of efficiency.
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