UK exporters are set to benefit from the doubling of cargo volumes at Heathrow as part of a 15 year vision to invest around £180m in “revolutionising” the UK hub’s airfreight facilities, including a new pharma storage area.
The blueprint plans were developed with key stakeholders and announced by Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye at today’s British Chambers of Commerce conference.
The blueprint includes proposals for a specialist pharmaceutical storage area — to support airlines to move highly valuable and temperature sensitive medicines — as well as better infrastructure to reduce congestion and smoother processes, all enabling freight to flow better through the airport and halving process time from 8-9 hours, to four hours.
In addition, freight forwarders using Heathrow will benefit from air to air transit – a facility located on the airfield which will enable smoother handling of transit cargo that arrives by air and is due to fly out by air. This will shorten connection times from a current average of 6+ hours.
The airport intends to become 100% e-freight ready – working with businesses, airlines, IATA, Customs and the UK Department for Transport to "fully implement e-freight at Heathrow". This reduces the need for lengthy paper work and will be one of the first airports to become 100% digital, it was stated by Holland-Kaye.
There will also be a new truck parking facility – a waiting area for drivers which will cater for over 100 vehicles and offer secure parking, access control, toilets/showers and dining facilities
A spokesman said: “Heathrow has developed its vision to overhaul the cargo facilities after working closely with stakeholders including freight forwarders, Government, exporters and British businesses, forming an ambition to become one of the leading European airports for cargo.
“These improvements will also encourage airlines to bring cargo friendly aircraft with greater freight capacity to Heathrow, which are typically more modern, greener and quieter.”
