Consolidated Aviation Services (CAS) has seen perishable volumes quadruple since it expanded its centre at Miami Airport.
The cargo handler more than doubled the size of its perishables facility at the airport in 2014 with the addition of a new $2.5m 18,000sq ft cooler alongside its existing 12,000sq ft perishables building, which opened in 2009.
In the first nine months since the expanded centre opened, throughput climbed to 70,000 tonnes, a 400% increase on its volumes before the investment.
The investment increased the building’s capacity to handle up to 90 ULDs at one time, added further 16-foot wide airside doors to expedite shipment handling, and introduced a refrigerated dock to handle trucks within a temperature-controlled environment.
A new agriculture inspection facility and walk-in freezer also formed part of the latest expansion as well as multiple cool chambers for fish, flowers and produce that need to be maintained in specific temperature conditions.
Ray Jetha, senior vice president sales and marketing at CAS said: “Miami is a major airport for CAS and one where we have been investing for a number of years to keep pace with the growth of our longstanding customers as well as new airlines that recognise Miami’s strong position in the US market and as a gateway to Latin America.
“The improvements to our perishables handling centre have helped us manage the increased demand for our services and we will invest again in the future when we see the need to do so to support our customers and maintain our strong position in the region.”
Miami is the perishables gateway to and from the US, handling 85% of all perishables air imports into the country and 80% of air exports. This adds up to over 720,000 tons of fresh fish, vegetables, fruits and flowers per annum for the US market as well as for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
