Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is set to open a fifth cargo handling terminal at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Construction has already started on the new 6,500m2 terminal, and WFS aims to begin operations from the facility by the end of Q1 2024.

The facility will increase WFS’ total cargo facility footprint in Madrid to 17,000m2.

WFS has signed a 30-year lease on the new building, which sits on a 12,500m2 plot connected to the airport tarmac.

The building is being designed to incorporate the highest levels of safety, security, and customer service as well as to support WFS’ progressive digitisation and sustainability programmes.

Humberto Castro, managing director of WFS in Spain, said: “Madrid is such a strategically important cargo market as a hub for Central and South America to and from the EU and connecting the Middle and Far East markets.

“This new cargo terminal will help to future-proof WFS’ service offering by increasing our handling capacity by 60 per cent for our current and future airline customers. This will enable us to accommodate strong organic growth and support the significant increase of inbound e-commerce traffic from China.”

The building will offer 17 landside truck and van docks, supported by direct and wide access from the main road to the facility, two build-up-pallet lanes and docks, four airside truck and dollies docks with tilting and 20-foot ULD handling capabilities, and a secured refrigerated cargo acceptance area.

It will also feature 2-8°C and 15-25°C loose and mechanised temperature-controlled cool rooms for pharma and perishable shipments, a mechanised handling system connecting the landside and airside docks, four integrated workstations with scales plus three loose cargo scales, and dedicated areas for DGS, VUN, HUM, PIL and AVI special cargoes.

The new building is situated in front of the main freighter parking area and close to Terminals 4 and 4S, which will help to shorten cargo transport timings.

WFS states that the multi-user building will match its other cargo terminals in Madrid by being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, including energy generated by solar panels located on the roof of the facility, which will also power LED lighting, warehouse climatisation, and electric battery chargers for cars and warehouse GSE.

Indoor AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) will also be introduced into the facility in the second half of 2024.

WFS states that digitisation initiatives will include the launch of Cargospot mobile warehouse technology, the CargoKiosk system to automate and expedite truck processing times, and a Warehouse Workflow Monitoring System to meet customer KPIs and ensure consistent levels of efficiency.

WFS, a member of the SATS Group, has been operating in the Madrid cargo and ground handling market since 1998 and serves 39 airline customers, also providing trucking services connecting other key airports in Spain and across the EU.

WFS also previously added facilities in Madrid in 2001, 2018, and 2019.