IAG Cargo inaugurates new cargo handling facility at London Heathrow

IAG Cargo has officially opened a new cargo handling facility at London Heathrow Airport that enables it to more than double the amount of premium loose shipments it can handle daily.

Measuring over 10,000 m2, the semi-automated New Premia facility will serve as IAG Cargo’s new home for handling premium loose shipments.

To support the increase in cargo handling capacity, the facility features bespoke IT systems and systems integration to regulate freight movements and allocations.

It has been designed to be as efficient as possible, with 11 new landside doors, meaning even faster engagement for drivers to collect or drop off cargo.

The temperature-controlled building includes a state-of-the-art Constant Climate Quality Centre (CCQC) for pharmaceuticals, with 29 dedicated cool cells and temperature facilities available from +2°C to +8°C (COL), +15°C to +25°C (CRT) and -20°C (FRO) ensuring sensitive shipments are held in a temperature-controlled environment at all times.

Additionally, the +15°C to +25°C (CRT) chamber includes two dedicated break and build workstations. The new facility is certified under IAG Cargo’s Good Distribution Practice (GDP) WDA license issued by the UK Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Agency.

Operationally, four large ‘transfer vehicles’ have been introduced which service the 20 new break and build workstations. These vehicles pass through the 11 rapid-rise delivery doors allowing cargo to be moved autonomously through the facility and into storage in advance of collection and delivery to the aircraft for exports and similarly the process works in reverse for imports.

This process uses ground-breaking technology as the system is fully integrated with IAG Cargo’s existing Warehouse Management System – which is the first time globally that this integration has been delivered.

David Shepherd, chief executive at IAG Cargo, said: “The opening of New Premia is a pivotal milestone for IAG Cargo – the benefits it will bring both to our customers and our operational teams is huge.

“We strive to provide the best service for our customers and the investment into our IT systems will improve our operational performance, optimizing the movement of cargo to support global trade.”