Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has been awarded a cargo handling licence at Oslo Airport, marking the group’s entry into Norway and expanding its European cargo handling network.
The licence, which remains subject to the fulfilment of applicable conditions, is part of airport operator Avinor’s efforts to expand cargo handling capacity and competition at Norway’s largest international airport.
Avinor operates 43 airports across Norway and said increasing the choice of cargo handling providers at Oslo Airport will provide additional capacity and greater options for airlines, freight forwarders and cargo owners.
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Eva Beate Lande, Head of Cargo at Avinor, said the arrival of another cargo handler represented an important development for Oslo Airport and its cargo community.
“This is very good news for Oslo Airport and the cargo community,” Lande said. “We have never previously had three cargo handlers at the airport, and a third operator will increase capacity and provide an even better offering for airlines, freight forwarders and cargo owners.”
Avinor said Oslo Airport is experiencing growing demand for cargo services and described the addition of a new operator as an important part of its cargo strategy.
The airport is also looking to strengthen the resilience of its cargo supply chain and support further growth in Norwegian and international air freight. Avinor said the development would reinforce Oslo Airport’s role as an air freight hub and provide a foundation for the further development of its Cargo West area.
Supporting Norway’s air freight growth
Oslo Airport plays an important role in the movement of time-sensitive and perishable cargo, including Norwegian seafood, and WFS said it expects to support the airport’s continued cargo growth.
John Batten, Chief Executive of Gateway Services Europe, Middle East and Africa at WFS, said the company would work with Avinor and the wider airport community to develop its cargo handling operation.
“We thank Avinor for this significant opportunity to expand the WFS and SATS network in Norway and, most importantly, to be able to support the continued cargo growth of Oslo Airport and its customers,” Batten said.
“Norway is an exciting market for air cargo. We look forward to working with Avinor and the airport community to develop a competitive and customer-focused service offering, which will be linked to SATS’ global air cargo network across 27 countries.”
WFS said the new licence extends its operating footprint to Norway for the first time. The company and SATS currently provide cargo handling at more than 225 stations across 27 countries, covering trade routes responsible for more than half of global air cargo volumes, according to WFS.
The move follows continued development of Oslo Airport’s cargo infrastructure and services. Avinor’s current aeronautical information confirms that cargo handling facilities are available at the airport, with cargo service providers including Scan GSE and Spirit Air Cargo Handling Norway.
For WFS, establishing a presence in Norway provides access to a market with significant export activity and strengthens the company’s Scandinavian network. The company already operates cargo handling stations elsewhere in the Nordic region as part of its wider European network.
The licence will allow WFS to establish its cargo handling operation at Oslo Airport and participate in the airport’s next phase of cargo development as demand for international air freight continues to evolve.
