Cargo stakeholders invest in airport expansions

DHL Global Forwarding and Brussels Airport (BRU) are the latest cargo stakeholders to invest in warehouse expansions at airports to support the growing surge in cargo demand. DHL invested 17 million AUD (US $12 million) into a new 4,880-square-foot facility at Brisbane Airport (BNE), according to a May 30 release. The new structure will feature the largest cold chain facility in the city, while simultaneously supporting the expansion of general cargo at the airport. The warehouse is expected to be completed in early 2023. “Brisbane is an important area for us because we are seeing rapid growth in exports, especially with perishable food , and its economy is predicted to surge by 2031,” a DHL spokesperson told Air Cargo World . “Having an expanded footprint in Brisbane will also enable us to support the growth of general cargo in Queensland.” [caption id="attachment_99077" align="alignright" width="431"] Photo/DHL[/caption] In addition to airside access, the facility will make use of X-ray and dimensional scanning machines in order to meet airline safety requirements, as well as a unit load device (ULD) lowering platform, according to the spokesperson. DHL will also implement ball and caster deck areas “for safe and efficient movement of pallets in cool and ambient rooms, reducing the need for material handling equipment.” The forwarder’s new warehouse will also be equipped with solar panels, reusable batteries to power most warehouse operations, and rainwater harvesting and EV charging stations to support sustainability efforts. The company also has plans to introduce carbon offsetting at the site by including the insetting for a carbon neutral supply chain, to be added at an unspecified later date. DHL has been expanding its footprint in Australia and in June 2021 launched a freighter service connecting Los Angeles (LAX), Sydney (SYD) and Singapore (SIN) . The expansion was driven by continual double-digit market percentage growth over a 15-year period, DHL previously told Air Cargo World. Other stakeholders eye Australia However, DHL isn’t the only stakeholder to take an interest in BNE in recent months. In February, France-based Geodis announced its intent to expand its Australian operations with a 4,500-square-meter warehouse facility at the airport, which is expected to go live in the latter half of this year. Efficiency of movement was also a major focus for the new facility at BRU, in which eight obsolete buildings in the airport’s main cargo area, Brucargo Central, will be torn down and replaced with three more efficient, environmentally friendly structures, according to a May 30 release. Work on the 83,500-square-meter area will begin this week, following on the heels of BRU’s expansion to its western cargo area, which saw the opening of a specialized animal care area in 2020 . The new layout aims to improve the mobility and security of airport traffic streams, according to the release. The new buildings will be sustainability focused, although it is unclear what those features will be. BRU was unavailable for comment ahead of publication. BRU will invest $75 million over the next three years in response to a dramatic uptick in cargo throughput in recent years. In 2021, the airport saw a throughput of 843,000 tonnes, up 30% from 2020. The airport’s 130 hectare cargo zone includes 380,000 square meters of warehouse space. Last month saw a myriad of other warehouse expansions across the globe. For instance, World Distribution Services established a new 480,000-square-foot e-commerce-focused facility near John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), while Zurich-based ground handler Swissport opened a cargo center of its own near Vienna International Airport (VIE). Bournemouth Airport (BOH) in the U.K. also recently announced plans to invest millions of pounds in cargo infrastructure , a move which will see the airport add apron space for cargo handling and transit sheds.

Cargo stakeholders invest in airport expansions

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