Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company has opened the first new cargo terminal to be built at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 30 years.
WFS’ warehouse footprint at JFK now exceeds 1 million square feet across eight facilities, reinforcing its position as the airport’s largest provider of cargo handling services. The handler currently serves 38 international and domestic airline customers at JFK.
With 350,000sq ft of floor space, Building 260 increases WFS’ cargo capacity at New York JFK by a further 25% and establishes the first-ever dedicated on-airport handling facility for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products and perishable cargo with over 3,000sq ft of cooler space at between 2-8°C or 15-25°C.
There is an adjacent ramp area that can accommodate up to three Boeing 747-400/777 or similar-sized wide body freighters and has already received its first arrival with Atlas Air.
Safety features include dock and polymer barriers to prevent accidental trailer movement, as well as impact-resistant doors and column protection systems to minimize damage from forklifts and moving equipment.
A Dock Management System is expected to reduce truck dwell times by as much as 25% by generating pre-alerts to reduce air waybill processing time and a Slot Booking System will manage traffic flow and provide clear visibility of shipment movements and availability, allowing WFS to schedule truck appointments at the building’s 44 truck docks based on shipment volume and complexity.
Warehouse Progress Monitoring (WPM) gives customers real-time visibility, Auto Dimensioning Equipment compliance with carrier requirements, and IATA Dangerous Goods (DG) Autocheck boosts safety and security. The Automated ETV (Elevating Transport Vehicle) and Unit Load Device (ULD) Management systems have been designed to allow for tracking by flight and automated staging for cargo buildup and breakdown, which helps to streamline operations by minimizing forklift usage needed to move ULDs like aircraft containers and pallets.
Building 260 is also close to several major highways.
Sustainability solutions include electric forklift trucks and electric vehicle charging stations for ground support equipment and customer or employee vehicles.
WFS chief executive for Gateway Services, Americas, Mike Simpson, said: “Building 260 marks a new era for WFS and air cargo at one of the main gateways to the US. This cutting-edge facility reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in our drive to serve customers better.”
