WFS teams up with BIAL to develop cargo terminal

To operate its first cargo handling operation in India at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has entered into a partnership with BIAL. WFS has been awarded a 15-year license. From May 2023, WFS will be responsible for the development, operation, management and maintenance of one of the cargo terminals at BIAL. WFS will also operate and invest in the expansion of the airport’s dedicated Cold Chain Facility. The cargo terminal awarded to WFS at BLR Airport, has the capacity to handle 210,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cargo a year. The cargo terminal will be used exclusively by WFS to handle international cargo. WFS will use its design, build, finance, process reengineering and development experience to reorganise and refurbish the facility to increase its throughput capacity potential to serve cargo volumes in excess of 250,000 MT annually. As operators of the dedicated Cold Chain Facility at the Airport, WFS and BIAL will begin a two-phase expansion of the dedicated operation, initially doubling its capacity to 80,000 MT per annum before increasing to a throughput capacity in excess of 150,000 MT per annum, post completion of phase 2. These investments are timed to support the next stage of India’s economic growth.