Swissport opens fifth cargo facility at Heathrow
06 / 11 / 2024
Joe Bellfield, chief operating officer, cargo, UK & Ireland (left) and Luke Hayhoe, chief commercial officer, UK & Ireland. Picture credit: Stuart Bailey
Ground handler Swissport has opened its fifth cargo facility at Heathrow Airport (LHR) as part of its plans to increase handling capacity.
The new airside facility, which joins four other Swissport facilities at Heathrow, includes 15,000 sq ft of temperature-controlled space for perishables and pharma shipments, advanced warehouse management systems and real-time tracking capabilities.
Swissport’s facility also includes a Border Inspection Post dedicated to immediate airside evaluation capabilities for importing goods.
“Our new facility at Heathrow is a cornerstone of our global air cargo expansion strategy. It not only enhances our service capabilities at a critical global hub but also demonstrates our commitment to investing in infrastructure and technology to meet the growing demands of the air cargo industry,” said Joe Bellfield, chief operating officer of cargo at Swissport.
Swissport also plans to further expand at East Midlands, Manchester, and Stansted airports.
This follows a 41% increase in Swissport’s overall warehouse capacity in the UK since 2023 and a 17% increase in cargo tonnage in the year to date, driven by e-commerce, pharma and perishables.
“Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, we have confidence that these market trends will continue. That’s why we’ve made a strategic decision to invest in this part of the business,” added Bellfield.
“Several customers are waiting to join Swissport’s portfolio once we have the space, and we’re thrilled to be expanding at Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester, and Stansted in the months that follow our opening at Heathrow Airport today.”
Other major recent developments for Swissport have been the awarding of a seven-year license to provide ground handling services at Frankfurt Airport, pharma certification for Swissport’s cargo centers in Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN) and the opening of a pet lounge at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.
