Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has signed a 15-year lease on a new cargo facility at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The new facility in the airport’s Northeast Cargo Area commenced operations last month and has enabled WFS to increase its cargo capacity by more than 10% to over 310 million kilos a year.

Frank Clemente, WFS’ senior vice president North America, said: “This new facility and investment reinforces WFS’ long-term commitment to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and its airline and logistics customers.”

The new facility provides an additional 122,000 sq ft of warehouse space, 10,000 sq ft of office accommodation, and approximately 200,000 sq ft of ramp space.

Clemente added: “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.”

To support WFS’ focus on sustainability, the new 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.

Supporting WFS’ customers’ premium temperature-controlled products, the facility has 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.