Air, Feature, Freight News


JFK unveils cargo centre for the 21st Century

[ April 24, 2025   //   ]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, investment company Realterm and handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) officially opened the first new cargo facility at New York JFK airport in 25 years on 23 April.

The $270 million consolidated cargo handling centre will consolidate operations from four separate cargo zones into a single modernized location. It is expected to improve service for high-value cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and perishables.

Operated by WFS, JFK’s primary cargo handler, the 350,000-square-foot facility spans 26 acres and replaces two older facilities. It is the first step in the Port Authority’s broader redevelopment plans for the airport’s north cargo area to accommodate recent and future long-term cargo growth.

Consolidation of cargo facilities in the north area aims to reduce congestion, improve logistics flow, and free up land for future development needs at the airport.

JFK is the busiest US entry point for low-value international e-commerce packages, handling about one-quarter of all such incoming shipments, as well as a key high value international cargo hub. In 2024, it handled 1.67 million tons of cargo, a 5% increase from 2023 and 25% more than in 2019, making it the eighth-busiest cargo airport in the US and 21st globally.

Innovations at include an advanced truck dock management system to optimize the flow of goods in and out of the facility, with real-time scheduling, automated check-ins, and digital communication between drivers and dock operators. The system automatically allocates the most efficient doors based on the size, type, and contents of each delivery. It also ensures that trucks arrive only when a dock is available, greatly reducing wait times and on-site congestion.

The new consolidated cargo handling centre includes 3,000 square feet of cooler space for goods requiring 2 to 8°C and 15 to 25°C environments, making it JFK’s first dedicated on-airport facility for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishables.

It also features electric forklifts, electric vehicle chargers, and an automated unit load device system to optimize power usage.

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