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Handler unveils major Heathrow cargo plan
[ January 30, 2013 // Chris ]Handler dnata has launched a website for its dnata City project, a purpose-built cargo logistics centre at London Heathrow Airport –www.dnatacity.co.uk. The project includes a 20-acre cargo complex centred around five air freight warehouses, a transportation facility and yard for airside operations enclosed in a security-fenced area.
“As a global player in the air cargo business, dnata is committed to making a strong contribution to improving Heathrow Airport’s air cargo infrastructure,” said CEO of dnata’s UK operations, Gary Morgan.
He continued that he is concerned about the lack of new air cargo facilities and felt “the need to step forward to create and deliver industry-leading air cargo services which will shape the future of our industry at Heathrow.”
Two of the dnata City buildings—the 140,000sq ftsq ft Cargo Point and 79,000sq ft West Point—currently handle 21 wide-body flights daily for Virgin Atlantic, with a 60,000sq ft facility nearby at Bedfont Road for Cathay Pacific’s passenger and freighter cargo operations. The dnata City complex will also encompass the handler’s existing 60,000sq ft self-contained transport yard, where it has a fleet of 85 modern trucks equipped with GPS tracking equipment providing 24/7 coverage with 4,000 truck movements currently servicing 656 flights every week.
Cargo business development director for dnata’s business in the UK, Mohammed Akhlaq, adds:
“dnata City can offer customers a range of versatile options to suit their specific needs. At this stage we are able to have meaningful input from carriers into both design aspects and to ensure we have the required handling systems in place.”
Three additional facilities at dnata City will provide 206,000sq ft of new cargo space- a 78,000sq ft cargo warehouse with 15,000sq ft of office space; a 54,000sq ft facility with 11,000sq ft of offices and a 40,000 sq ft building with 8,000 sq ft of office space. The new facilities will also feature fully automated cargo handling systems as well as chiller rooms, valuable handling facilities and are designed to handle peak freighter cargo alongside general cargo flows.