Air Menzies International (AMI) has moved to a new facility at LAX, allowing expansion of its product offering and adding to its already significant presence at Southern California’s premier air freight hub. The move from their existing facility will more than double their warehouse space and place them just 500m from LAX International Airport, conveniently allowing freight forwarders to drop off cargo without having to queue at airlines cargo facilities.
The move is part of a major investment in its US facilities which will allow the global air freight wholesaler to increase and improve its consolidations services, add new trade lanes, and being able to offer new services including bonded storage, transit cargo handling, import e-Commerce, and devanning ocean containers.
The impending change to the international air transportation standards mandate for security screening is also a significant factor in the move to a bigger facility. From June 30th, 100% of international all cargo aircraft flights are required to receive the same level of security screening and scrutiny that cargo shipments on passenger fights undergo now. It is expected the demand for X-ray screening services across the US will rise dramatically after this date, as US freight forwarders seek to comply with the mandate or risk having their shipments blocked from being loaded onto the aircraft.
Speaking of the move, Tibor Fodelmesi, VP for the Americas said: “Our new facility will help us to add even more services, expand and diversify our consolidations services internationally, but crucially introduce new solutions that we have been unable to provide before in our previous LAX facility.
“Also, with the end of June deadline on cargo screening fast approaching, it is providing us with a large increase in warehouse space, as we anticipate a big uptake in our X-ray screening services. This move will be the first of many investments into our facilities across the US, with further moves planned for New York, Chicago and Miami over the coming year.”
Recently appointed Adam Cooper, head of sales for the Americas added further: “With the growth in online sales increasing significantly over the last year, the requirement to have a flexible and dynamic range of services is key in today’s market. AMI’s ability to quickly adapt and provide the solutions our customers require here and now, as well as in the future, is a major part of the ethos at AMI.”
