Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, will advance air cargo handling innovation and sustainability at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as it celebrates the opening of the first new cargo terminal to be built at the airport in 30 years.

With the opening of the new facility at the end of January, WFS’ warehouse footprint at JFK now exceeds 1 million square feet across eight facilities, reinforcing its position as the airport’s largest provider of cargo handling services. WFS currently serves 38 international and domestic airline customers at JFK.

Mike Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Services, Americas at WFS, said: “WFS is proud of its 41 years of service to our customers at New York JFK. Building 260 marks a new era for WFS and air cargo at one of the main gateways to the United States. This cutting-edge facility reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in our drive to serve customers better. Building 260 sets new standards for efficiency and safety and is a showpiece not just for JFK’s aviation ecosystem, but to the air cargo industry worldwide. The facility embodies our dedication to connecting the world through logistics and embraces new levels of digitalization and sustainability that will act as a model for other new cargo operations around the world.”

He added: “We thank our partners at Realterm for their collaboration in bringing this project to life and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their support in making it a reality, as well as all the members of our own team who have been so committed to this project.”

With 350,000 sq. ft. of floor space, Building 260 represents a transformative step forward for WFS and the air cargo industry at JFK by embracing cutting-edge technology, environmentally sustainable practices, and robust safety and security protocols. The opening of the facility increases WFS’ cargo capacity at New York JFK by a further 25% and establishes the first-ever dedicated on-airport handling facility for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products and perishable cargo. Over 3,000 sq. ft of cooler space enables the handling of perishable and pharmaceutical goods requiring variable temperature ranges of between 2-8°C or 15-25°C.

Adjacent to the new WFS cargo terminal is a ramp area that can accommodate up to three Boeing 747-400/777 or similar-sized wide body freighters and has already received its first arrival with Atlas Air.

Safety has been a prime consideration in the design of the facility and safety features include dock and polymer barriers to prevent accidental trailer movement, ensuring safe loading and unloading, as well as impact-resistant doors and column protection systems to minimize damage from forklifts and moving equipment, thus reducing downtime.

Designed to new standards of cargo operations, Building 260 is equipped with innovative features such as the latest Dock Management System to drive efficiency and predictability for cargo pickups and drop-offs. This is expected to reduce truck dwell times by as much as 25% by generating pre-alerts to reduce air waybill processing time. Customer experience will also be enhanced by the building’s Slot Booking System to manage traffic flow and provide clear visibility of shipment movements and availability, allowing WFS to schedule truck appointments at the building’s 44 truck docks based on shipment volume and complexity.

The digital journey of cargo shipments in Building 260 is also driven by the latest technologies, from Warehouse Progress Monitoring (WPM) to give customers real-time visibility, to Auto Dimensioning Equipment for compliance with carrier requirements, and IATA Dangerous Goods (DG) Autocheck for safety and security. The Automated ETV (Elevating Transport Vehicle) and Unit Load Device (ULD) Management systems have been designed to allow for tracking by flight and automated staging for cargo buildup and breakdown, which helps to streamline operations by minimizing forklift usage needed to move ULDs like aircraft containers and pallets.

Collectively, these technologies will help to optimize WFS’ labor resources and productivity, ultimately reducing congestion and lowering wait times for cargo shipments. Operational efficiency is further enhanced by Building 260’s convenient location next to several major highways in New York for more seamless road transportation connectivity. Access to these highways make Building 260 highly accessible, ensuring efficient transportation for cargo operations, as well as WFS staff and contractors who work at the facility.

Sustainability solutions built into the new facility all support SATS’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) group priorities from electric forklift trucks to EV charging stations for both ground support equipment and customer/employee vehicles. The centralized ETV system for automated ULD dispatch to the ramp and warehouse also streamlines operations and reduces equipment usage.

“Building 260 reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional service and setting new benchmarks for the industry. It’s a milestone achievement that positions us to meet the future demands of global logistics with confidence and excellence,” added Frank Clemente, SVP Cargo, Americas at WFS.

Successful partnership: Korean Air Cargo and Vienna Airport extend cooperation in cargo handling

Korean Air Cargo continues to rely on the proven cargo handling quality of Vienna Airport. A four-year extension of the existing handling contract between the airport and the Korean airline has been signed and will now run until the end of 2028. Thus, Vienna Airport is continuing its successful partnership with Korean Air Cargo, which has been in place since the airline’s first flight to Vienna in 2004.

“The successful partnership between Korean Air Cargo and Vienna Airport has been extended for another four years – a strong sign of the trust and cooperation that has connected our companies for 20 years. Together we will continue to develop cargo handling between Seoul and Vienna at the highest level and expand our position as a leading European cargo hub. Austria, its neighboring countries and Asia will thus remain closely linked economic zones through international airfreight traffic in the future. We look forward to continuing this success story”, states Julian Jäger, joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.

“We are delighted to announce our continued partnership with Vienna Airport. Our co-operation has led to successful business results, and we are confident that this contract extension will lead to further growth and development. We look forward to providing our customers with the best possible transport services and further strengthening Vienna Airport’s position as a major hub for logistics in Eastern Europe”, says Eum Jaedong, Executive Vice President and Head of Cargo Division at Korean Air Cargo.

“The extension of the Korean Air Cargo contract until 2028 is clear proof of Vienna Airport’s strength as an air cargo hub. At the site we offer comprehensive services, modern infrastructure and a dedicated team that ensures maximum efficiency and reliability. Korean Air Cargo is one of the most important cargo airlines at the site and we look forward to further expanding our good collaboration”, says Michael Zach, Senior Vice President Ground Handling & Cargo Operations of Vienna Airport.

Vienna Airport intensifies cooperation with Korean Air Cargo and Incheon Airport
The collaboration between Korean Air Cargo and Vienna Airport has been continuously adapted and deepened over the years, most recently as part of an extended cooperation agreement in Seoul-Incheon (ICN) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the partnership in 2024. This agreement was signed to intensify the cooperation in order to meet the increasing demand for air cargo services between Korea and Vienna as a hub for Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to the extended handling contract, both sides plan joint marketing initiatives and knowledge transfer in areas such as logistics systems as well as the expansion of optimal services for freight forwarders and customers. The new Memorandum of Understanding with Incheon Airport also strengthens Vienna Airport’s position as a leading European cargo hub for the transportation of goods between Asia and Europe and supports the long-term partnership between the two locations.

Korean Air Cargo: major cargo carrier worldwide
Korean Air Cargo is one of the world’s leading cargo airlines and currently connects Vienna Airport with up to ten flights per week to international economic centers. The Korean airline operates a fleet of Boeing 747-400Fs, Boeing 747-8Fs and Boeing 777Fs. For the airline, Vienna Airport is an important gateway for electronic and pharma goods from Asia.

Aviation Handling Services Jordan Ltd. (AHS) uses state-of-the-art technology from Lödige Industries at its newly developed Cargo Terminal at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Kingdom of Jordan. As the world’s leading provider of air cargo terminal solutions, Lödige Industries was contracted to provide the client an automated solution for handling import and export shipments into and out of the Kingdom of Jordan. The project started in February 2022 and was finished in July 2024.

Lödige Industries designed, manufactured and delivered a customised automated storage system with a capacity of 136 Unit Load Devices (ULDs). This includes an Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV), the newest in the Kingdom of Jordan, which ensures reliable, fast and efficient storage and retrieval processes. The ETV is guided on rails and transports with its lift the ULDs vertically and horizontally at the same time. A tailor-made conveyor system of powered roller decks is used for efficient and safe transport between different work areas. Here, elevating workstations (EWS) ensure optimised processes during build-up and break-down. Lödige Industries also equipped the terminal with a cargo control system to interface with the client cargo management system as well as additional mobile terminal equipment, including mobile workstations and mobile workstation movers (formerly slave pallets and slave pallet movers).

To ensure smooth operations for AHS/Menzies, Lödige Industries provides maintenance support. The new terminal spans 8,000 square meters, featuring a Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking system with 2,400 skid positions, capable of accommodating a diverse range of single shipments and storing pallets of varying sizes and weights. Additionally, approximately 4,000 square meters of space in front of the warehouse airside can be efficiently utilized for GSE and ULD, providing ample room for freighter handling. The handling capacity is expected to increase to 60,000 tons per year. The facility supports the regional operations of AHS/Menzies and Menzies Global Network.

“The fully equipped new freight terminal enables AHS to automate its ULD handling to a large extent and ensures a high throughput of cargo for long-term growth at the Queen Alia International Airport,” says Mr. Guy Walker, Managing Director of Lödige Systems Middle East. “As the leading supplier, we were able to meet all of the customer’s requirements ranging from design and production to commissioning and maintenance from a single source.”

“We are pursuing a long-term growth plan and have therefore chosen a reliable and powerful system from Lödige Industries to equip our new cargo terminal,” says Mr. Dominique Ceulemans, Managing Director at AHS Jordan. “The high level of automation allows us to handle cargo quickly, efficiently and safely thus achieving the high-quality service we want to offer our customers

Maritime Week Africa (#MWAF25), the longest-running and most popular bunkering event on the African continent, is making history by hosting its 16th edition on the beautiful island nation of Mauritius from 24-27 March 2025.
For the very first time, the industry’s key stakeholders – including bunker buyers and suppliers, ports, refiners, regulators, and maritime professionals – will convene at the Hilton Mauritius to explore cutting-edge developments, unique opportunities, and pressing challenges impacting the bunkering sector in Mauritius, across Africa, and beyond.
Packed Conference Programme
Attendees can expect an in-depth focus on both traditional marine fuels and emerging alternatives, reflecting the industry’s drive toward innovation and sustainability. Sessions will examine the critical factors shaping current markets and forecast the forces that will influence future growth. For a detailed look at the full conference agenda, please visit the MWAF 2025 Programme.
Event Highlights
1. Major International Conference: Thought leaders will share insights on bunkering, decarbonization, and next-generation fuel options.
2. Specialised Training Courses: Deep-dive sessions on shipping, bunkering, and alternative fuels to keep professionals ahead of the curve.
3. Exclusive Port Louis Tour: Experience the key maritime gateway of Mauritius and gain firsthand knowledge of its strategic importance.
4. Unparalleled Networking: Engage with industry colleagues at receptions, dinners, and other social gatherings amidst the island’s picturesque setting.
Join Us
Maritime Week Africa 2025 represents a pivotal opportunity to embrace change, plan for the future, and shape the evolving narrative of Africa’s marine fuels industry. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative event.
Contact & Registration
For more information, media inquiries, or registration details, please visit the official Maritime Week Africa 2025 website at maritimeweekafrica.com or email us at info@ship.energy

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Contact:
Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, CEO and Founder, ship.energy Limited
Email: lbh@ship.energy

Sustainability is at the core of business operations for Sandvik Mining South Africa, developing innovative practices that drive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives.

This means embracing a holistic approach rooted in three pillars – planet, people and profit –according to Sandvik Mining South Africa’s Sustainability Manager, Jan Prinsloo. With its focus on making a positive local impact, Prinsloo highlights that the company’s initiatives are carefully aligned with global commitments.

“We tailor our efforts to specific local needs, while also aligning these with Sandviks global strategy and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he says. With South Africa being a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement, it has its own National Development Plan de’termined to the contribution to the global sustainability challenges and targets as set and agreed, he points out. This is another important factor in how Sandvik South Africa prioritises its sustainability areas.

“We also recognise the importance of ‘double materiality’,” he says, “so that we achieve a balanced assessment of how our business operations affect the environment, alongside an understanding of how environmental changes in turn impact our business”

Mining Contractor PT Pamapersada Nusantara (PAMA) has made history by becoming the first open pit coal mine in the region to implement Automation at its Kalimantan coal mine site in Indonesia, and RCT was chosen to do it.

RCT’s Automation technology has been embraced on site across its dozer fleet, consisting of two Komatsu Dozers (D155 and D375). These dozers have been equipped with Line-Of-Sight and portable vision to give operators an even clearer view and improve safety for operators.

“This project is an important and historic moment for improving operational safety management in the Indonesian coal mining world,” said SHE Management Development Department Head, Pak Ridha. The site’s decision to move from manual operation to Automation was safety driven.

Risk reduction
“As we know, mining involves several high-risk areas related to bulldozer work, such as near water, mud, cliffs, heights and land clearing areas. With this application of technology, the level of risk in these areas can be reduced significantly,” added Mr Ridha.

In November 2024, teams across LTA Autecon’s Oil & Gas coastal region celebrated World Quality Week with the theme ‘Quality: From Compliance to Performance’. This theme emphasises the shift from merely meeting compliance standards, to driving performance through a strong and entrenched culture of quality.

Assistant Site Manager Fadiel Meyer, who participated along with many of his colleagues, supports this initiative, as celebrating World Quality Week helps to embed a mindset which motivates LTA Autecon’s people to innovate, collaborate and improve. This echoes and reinforces the company’s own well-known operational ethos and motto ‘Home without harm, everyone everyday’.

“It is vital to ensure that our teams are constantly sensitised to – and aware of – the need for quality in all that they do. It is also important to utilise these initiatives to celebrate the work our teams do, and to show them our appreciation. Our people take these initiatives to heart!” he enthuses.

Celebrating quality through creativity and collaboration
At LTA Autecon, the practice of celebrating World Quality Week began in 2020. In 2024, it became a uniquely coastal initiative at four of the LTA Oil and Gas sites, in which teams were encouraged to proactively contribute ideas, take ownership and drive quality performance across all projects. The initiative was driven by two of the company’s Quality Co- ordinators: Dean Pierce in KwaZulu-Natal and Randal Jacks in Cape Town.

Throughout 2024, the demand for Emirates SkyCargo’s specialist product portfolio, extensive global network and all-widebody fleet continued to grow exponentially, with no signs of slowing down. To meet the burgeoning global demand, the airline has wet-leased two additional Boeing 747 freighters, starting 2025 with a 15% increase in critical main deck cargo capacity, compared to January 2024.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said: “Throughout 2024, we made significant investments in new and leased freighter aircraft to address the evolving supply chain and air cargo demands around the world to ensure we had a stable supply of capacity to best serve our global customers. This remains a key priority for Emirates SkyCargo, as we set our sights on the next era of growth.

“We anticipate that demand will continue to boom, reflecting Dubai’s prominence as a global logistics hub. Enhancing our cargo capabilities is essential to support Dubai’s Economic Agenda, enabling us to reach new destinations, bolster our current operations and elevate our specialist product portfolio.”

The multi-year lease for the Boeing 747s was signed with the Compass Group, one of Emirates SkyCargo’s longstanding and most reliable partners. This investment in additional Boeing 747F capacity enables the airline to unlock immediate capacity to cater to customer demand, while the partners discuss avenues for further expansion of the collaboration.

Emirates SkyCargo’s leasing strategy complements its owned fleet, which continues to grow. In 2024, the airline received two of its new Boeing 777Fs, which immediately entered service, with a focus on the increasing demand of eCommerce shipments from Asian markets. The additional aircraft also enabled Emirates SkyCargo to expand its network of destinations served by freighters to 38, with the deployment of a weekly freighter to Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Emirates SkyCargo active operating fleet now consists of 10 Boeing 777Fs and six wet-leased Boeing 747s, bringing the aircraft count to 16. The airline also has 13 Boeing 777Fs on order, with expected delivery between 2025 and 2026. This substantial orderbook will support the airline through its next phase of growth, while it explores all options for the future fleet, including the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350-1000F.

Facilitating the swift, reliable and efficient movement of goods, Emirates SkyCargo harnesses the widebody fleet and multi-frequency schedules of Emirates’ passenger operations. The recently increased passenger flights to key cities including Madagascar via the Seychelles, Uganda and Ethiopia, followed by Johannesburg, South Africa and Melbourne, Australia before the end of the financial year, will further bolster the freight division’s capacity to transport goods worldwide. Finally, the arrival of the first A350, which entered service this month, will further boost bellyhold capacity, offering 12 tonnes on every flight.