WFS expands capacity at Madrid Airport with fifth terminal opening

“It is a proud day for WFS to be opening another state-of-the-art cargo handling facility in the EMEAA region. New cargo terminals provide us with the opportunity to embrace our sustainability and digitalisation programmes from day one of the operation. This facility demonstrates our long-term commitment to Madrid and our current and future customers serving this growing airport,” Batten said.

WFS has been a leading provider of cargo handling services for airlines in Madrid since 1998 and has consistently invested to increase and upgrade its infrastructure. Previous facilities were opened in Madrid in 2001, 2018, and 2019.

In support of its long-term commitment to the airport community, WFS has signed a 30-year lease on the new building located on a 12,500 square meter site with a warehouse area connected directly to the airport tarmac. The building provides:

- Seventeen landside truck/van docks for efficient collections and deliveries

- Two BUP dedicated docks

- Direct access from the main road

- Two build-up pallet lanes

- Four airside truck docks capable of handling ULDs up to twenty feet

- A secured refrigerated cargo acceptance area

- Temperature-controlled cool rooms for pharma and perishable shipments

- A Material Handling System connecting landside and airside docks

- Four integrated lowerable workstations with scales

- Dedicated areas for special cargoes such as DGS (Dangerous Goods), VUN (Valuables), HUM (Human Remains), PIL (Pillows), AVI (Live Animals)

- Optimized security systems including CCTV monitoring

This new building is strategically located near Terminals 4 and 4S to shorten transport times. It supports WFS’ sustainability commitments by being powered entirely by renewable energy sources that supply LED lighting, climatization systems for warehouses, electric battery chargers for vehicles as well as warehouse equipment. Indoor Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) will be introduced later this year.

The facility utilizes advanced technology like Cargospot mobile warehouse technology along with CargoKiosk digital systems designed to expedite truck processing times efficiently through automated means. A Warehouse Workflow Monitoring System ensures consistent levels of efficiency aligned with customer KPIs.

Castro added: “Madrid is strategically important to WFS as a premier European hub for Central and South America cargo volumes due to its easy connections across EU markets extending towards Middle & Far Eastern regions; it also stands out among preferred e-commerce destinations witnessing significant growth today."

“Our continued investment at this airport underscores intentions towards maintaining leadership status within ground service provision alongside contributing significantly towards ongoing success witnessed here.”

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