WFS secures 20-year lease for new air cargo terminal at Heathrow

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has won a tender to develop and operate a new air cargo facility at London Heathrow Airport, strengthening its footprint at the UK’s busiest cargo gateway.

The new terminal, spanning around 11,000 sq m, will be located in the Southampton Road cargo area and is scheduled to become operational in 2027. Under a 20-year lease agreement, the facility will add more than 160,000 tonnes of annual handling capacity to Heathrow’s cargo infrastructure.

SATS-owned WFS plans to equip the warehouse with a four-level pallet and container handling system (PCHS) featuring 220 positions, supported by two elevating transfer vehicles (ETVs). The design will support a wide range of cargo types, with dedicated areas for high-value goods, pharmaceuticals, perishables, express shipments, live animals (AVI), and dangerous goods. The terminal will also be capable of processing outsize consignments such as vehicles and aircraft engines.

According to WFS, the investment reflects sustained growth in cargo demand at Heathrow and the airport’s critical role in UK and global trade. The new capacity will enable the handler to support expansion by existing airline customers while accommodating additional carriers.

Heathrow handled 1.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 10%, with goods valued at £215.6 billion. Airlines operating at the airport serve around 230 destinations across 85 countries and account for more than 72% of the UK’s air cargo value.

WFS reported that its own cargo volumes at Heathrow rose 28% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year, driven by new airline contracts and organic growth.

The company currently operates eight facilities at Heathrow, covering nearly 44,000 sq m, and handles over 350,000 tonnes annually for 12 major airlines, including Air India and Riyadh Air.