Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has increased its cargo capacity at Chicago O’Hare International Airport by more than 10% with the opening of a further cargo terminal.
The cargo handler, acquired by SATS in April, has signed a 15-year lease on the new facility in the airport’s northeast cargo area, which commenced operations last month.
The lease has enabled WFS to increase its cargo capacity at the airport to over 310m kilos a year
The new facility provides an additional 122,000 sq ft of warehouse space, 10,000 sq ft of office accommodation, and some 200,000 sq ft of ramp space at the airport.
WFS is a major provider of cargo and ground handling services for airlines and logistics providers in Chicago, supplying cargo, ramp, mail, and passenger services for customers including China Airlines, Eva Air, Kalitta Air, Flexport, Atlas Air, UPS, USPS and Air France KLM Martinair.
Cargo customers are now managed through four WFS facilities at the airport. In addition to the new cargo terminal, WFS has three established warehouse and office operations in Chicago covering a combined footprint of 595,000 sq ft.
WFS said this capability has helped it gain new and renewed contracts in the last 12 months with Flexport, Atlas Air, Eva Air, Kalitta Air, KLM, Air France, Martinair, WestJet, UPS, USPS and China Airlines.
The latest WFS facility is equipped with electric forklift vehicles, solar panels and EV chargers. It is also fitted with a three-tier AKE storage racking system to optimise its handling capacity and an automated bypass system.
A 3,000 sq ft, two-storey cooler with three levels of vertical storage and the capacity of 100+ skid positions and six ULD pallets, will also support WFS’ customers’ premium temperature-controlled products.
“This new facility and investment reinforce WFS’ long-term commitment to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and its airline and logistics customers. With on-site ramp handling, brand-new equipment and sustainability features, it significantly enhances our presence at the airport and provides the growth capacity we need as a leading provider of safe, secure and high-quality handling services at one of the premier air cargo gateways in the United States,” said Frank Clemente, senior vice president cargo, North America at WFS.
