WFS’s investment in state-of-the-art facilities at Brussels Airport pay off

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) has invested in state-of-the-art facilities as part of its long-term commitment to Brussels Airport. This decision has earned the world’s largest cargo handling company a new five-year contract with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.

As a result, WFS will provide a total handling solution including cargo, mail and truck handling, and services for special products, for some 30,000 tonnes annually.

Winning this prestigious Air France KLM Martinair Cargo contract comes as WFS prepares for the opening of its new 25,000 sq m Building 835 at Brussels Airport. The new facility is part of a €100 million investment by Brussels Airport in the cargo zone at the airport. It will incorporate 3,000 square metres of cooling facilities for pharma and perishables shipments and a covered airside staging area. Plus an outside container storage.  WFS is committed to the highest levels of safety and security. Therefore, the company the facilities will be equipped with full CCTV coverage, x-ray and other security technologies.

Marc Claesen is Senior Vice President Commercial EMEAA at WFS. He said: “We are extremely proud that Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. We are extending their partnership with WFS in Europe as we continue to invest in our presence at Brussels Airport. WFS is making this strong commitment to support our customers, the Belgian freight and logistics industry, and Brussels Airport’s ambition to be one of Europe’s most important and professional cargo hubs. We are extremely confident in the long-term airport’s growth potential.”

The opening of Building 835 will mark WFS’ second new cargo terminal at Brussels Airport within two years. In February 2019, it also commenced operations in the custom-built Building 832 at the airport, a 9,400 sq m freight centre designed to support fast and efficient loading, unloading and handling of cargo, and specialist trucking and forwarding activities.

WFS’ 17 airline customers in Brussels, as well as their freight forwarding customers, also benefit from other innovative technologies. These include a slot booking app to expedite truck handling times and kiosks and self-acceptance systems for faster cargo acceptance.

Last year, WFS became the first handler to win the BRUcargo Award. This accolade is an initiative of Brussels Airport Company. The accolade recognises and incentivises service excellence.

WFS founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Paris. The company is the world’s largest air cargo handler. It ranks among the leading providers of ground handling and technical services with annual revenues of over EUR1.2 billion. Its 26,400 employees serve more than 270 airlines at 175 major airports in 22 countries on five continents.

WFS is expanding into Building 835 at Brussels Airport. This is part of a €100 million cargo zone investment by Brussels Airport.