WFS signs 20-year lease for new air cargo hub at Heathrow
New 11,000m² on-airport warehouse will boost WFS capacity and support Heathrow’s long-term cargo growth from 2027.
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has strengthened its long-term commitment to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) after securing a 20-year lease for a new, purpose-built on-airport air cargo warehouse. The 11,000m² facility, awarded through a competitive tender process, is scheduled to become fully operational in 2027 and will play a key role in supporting rising cargo volumes at the UK’s busiest air freight hub.
Located on Southampton Road in the heart of Heathrow’s cargo area, the new warehouse is designed to significantly enhance WFS’s handling capability and operational efficiency. The facility will be equipped with a four-level, 220-position Powered Cargo Handling System (PCHS), supported by two Elevating Transfer Vehicles (ETVs). Together with other material handling system upgrades, this infrastructure will enable the terminal to process more than 160,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The investment comes as Heathrow continues to post strong cargo performance. In 2024, the airport handled 1.58 million tonnes of cargo, representing a 10 percent year-on-year increase, with goods valued at £215.6 billion. Heathrow remains the UK’s largest port by value, with airlines serving 230 destinations across 85 countries and regions, carrying over 72 percent of all UK air cargo by value.
WFS’s own growth at Heathrow mirrors this broader trend. Cargo volumes handled by the company were 28 percent higher in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year, driven by new airline contract wins and organic growth from existing customers. Currently, WFS operates across eight facilities at Heathrow, covering nearly 44,000m², and handles more than 350,000 tonnes annually for 12 major airlines, including Air India and Riyadh Air.
“Heathrow is literally flying from a cargo perspective, so it is imperative that we can provide the physical infrastructure to process these growing volumes,” said Chris Beale, Managing Director UK at WFS. He added that the new lease underlines WFS’s long-term commitment to the airport and its airline and cargo customers.
Beyond capacity expansion, the Southampton Road warehouse will support WFS’ sustainability objectives and feature dedicated facilities for special cargo, including pharmaceuticals, valuables, perishables, express shipments, live animals, and dangerous goods. It will also be capable of handling outsize cargo such as cars and aircraft engines. The new terminal is expected to create up to 100 jobs when it opens in 2027.
