IAG Cargo launches new facility at London Heathrow
Semi-automated facility, over 10,000m2, will allow IAG Cargo to handle more than double premium shipments
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), announced the official opening of its new cargo handling facility - New Premia - at key international hub London Heathrow.
"New Premia will serve as IAG Cargo’s new home for handling premium loose shipments, enabling double the amount of cargo to be managed daily. To accommodate this increase in cargo handling capacity, significant focus has been given to designing bespoke IT systems and systems integration to regulate freight movements and allocations inside the facility," says an official release.
The facility has been designed to handle more cargo for customers as efficiently as possible with 11 new landside doors, meaning even faster engagement for drivers to collect or drop off cargo, the release added. "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 licence issued by the UK Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Agency."
David Shepherd, Chief Executive Officer, IAG Cargo says: “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, optimising the movement of cargo to support global trade. I’m proud of the entire team that have made it possible to officially launch today – it represents a truly exciting time for us as a business. I look forward to seeing New Premia now run at its full potential.”
IAG Cargo had a commercial value of €1.6 billion in 2022, the release added.