Police investigating after uranium detected in shipment at Heathrow Airport
The London Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command unit is investigating after a shipment contaminated with uranium was found at Heathrow Airport on 29th December, 2022. A security alert was sparked at Heathrow after scanners detected the uranium as a shipment of scrap metal was being moved to a freight shed, according to media reports. The […]
UK’s largest port remains resilient
Heathrow Airport holds the illustrious title of the UK’s largest port by value, having handled £153 billion in non-EU imports and exports across a network of over 235 destinations worldwide during 2021, accounting for 3/4 of all British air cargo. Despite the collapse in passenger traffic, Heathrow maintained strong cargo volumes throughout, supported the movement […]
dnata calls for further Heathrow talks with Unite the Union
dnata UK’s ground handling & cargo operations arm has called on Unite the Union to respond to requests for further talks to prevent potential industrial action from taking place in London Heathrow. The Union has reportedly ignored responses for further talks and is balloting its members for industrial action at London Heathrow despite dnata being […]
WFS adds cargo capacity at Heathrow as volumes soar
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has increased its facility footprint at London’s Heathrow Airport after a 30% growth in volumes in the past year. WFS has signed a five-year lease on Building 578 in the airport’s cargo area, boosting its warehouse and office space by a further 27,000 sq. ft. The additional building, due to commence […]
New animal reception centre to open at Heathrow
A new animal reception centre at London Heathrow Airport is due to be open from Quarter 4 this year. The specialist facility, operated by Animal Aircare Ltd, will double as an approved border control post and state-of-the-art animal reception centre. Services will include assistance with airline approvals to carry animals, transit of animals through London […]
Kenya Airways to resume flights to London
Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) is resuming flights to Heathrow from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The direct flights are set to restart from the June 26 2021 following the lifting of the suspension of flights to/ from the United Kingdom by the Government of Kenya. “The resumption of flights to London, United Kingdom (UK) is […]
JetBlue comes to Gatwick
JetBlue has announced it will make its highly anticipated entrance into the transatlantic market with nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy international Airport (JFK) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) starting August 11, 2021. The New York airline will further enhance its U.S. and U.K. schedules with nonstop service between New York-JFK and London […]
dnata starts City East construction
Aberdeen Standard Investments’ AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has today announced the start of construction on Phase II of dnata City East, a 11,000 sq m extension of its landmark air cargo facility located immediately to the south of Heathrow Airport. The building will be operated by dnata, the largest independent cargo-handler serving […]
Swissport win Lufthansa contract at Heathrow
Swissport in the UK has won a major cargo handling contract from the Lufthansa Group for London Heathrow Airport. With this win, Swissport now handles the German airline group’s cargo at all of its UK destinations. “We are pleased to be able to offer our premium air cargo handling services to the Lufthansa Group at […]
BIFA Freight Service award winners
Despite a year beset by multiple operational difficulties and uncertainties, BIFA notes that there were many outstanding entries in the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020. In the Air Cargo Services category, which was sponsored by ASM UK, Simarco Worldwide Logistics triumphed over fellow finalists DHL Global Forwarding, Kerry Logistics and Ligentia Global. Winner of the Ocean Services Award, sponsored by […]
Unite ends BA fire and rehire dispute
British Airways and Unite have been at loggerheads over their unfair firing and hiring of the workforce in its cargo division. However, Unite union has now secured a deal to end the long running dispute after BA’s new CEO Sean Doyle became directly involved. Members of Unite employed at BA Cargo, the majority of whom […]
Government must protect industry from ‘total collapse’, says GMB
GMB Union says the Government must step in to protect the aviation industry from ‘total collapse’ amid rumours of a full UK border shutdown. This morning cabinet minister George Eustice said the Government has considered the possibility of closing the borders to travellers to prevent new strains of covid being spread in the UK. Aviation workers […]
GMB welcomes Supreme Court Heathrow ruling
GMB, the union for aviation workers, has welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court to approve the building of a third runway at Heathrow. Heathrow Airport Limited successfully challenged a Court of Appeal ruling given in February which cast doubt on the future of the proposed expansion. “Today’s ruling is a welcome boost at the […]
Heathrow scales up its cargo offering
Heathrow is calling on airlines and freight companies to take advantage of the airport’s quieter schedule so that the aviation industry utilise its resources in the fight against COVID-19. As aviation associations, including TIACA and IATA, have emphasised the airfreight industry will be relied on in the current climate to keep vital supply lines open […]
Kerry Logistics’ new Heathrow home
Kerry Logistics Network Limited has moved its UK airfreight division into a new facility close to London Heathrow as it continues to grow its airfreight volumes. The 4,000 sq m facility operates 24/7 and provides a fully temperature-controlled bonded warehouse including deep frozen storage, pick and pack machinery, vacuum cooling and other operations to meet […]
COVID-19’s impact on Heathrow
“The threat of Coronavirus is an increasing challenge for the UK and we are working day and night to ensure Britain’s front door is open and safe for our people and passengers. We will continue to work with the Government to limit the impacts this will have on UK plc,” commented John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO. […]
Blocked expansion of Heathrow Airport is unlikely to be the last, says GlobalData
Heathrow’s plans to expand, which included plans for a third runway, were ruled unlawful on 27 February. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view on the future situation for UK airports. “Many airlines were banking on the third runway expansion at Heathrow airport to reach […]
Government chooses not to appeal Heathrow verdict
The UK government has chosen not to appeal today’s court ruling that the expansion of Heathrow will be unlawful. However, Heathrow will challenge the decision as they believe there is possibility to expand with a third runway that will be in line with the Paris Agreement.
Heathrow is still optimistic for expansion
Heathrow Airport have released a statement in response to today’s court ruling against the expansion of the airport and the third runway. The airport are optimistic that their plans will be successful and will contribute to a ‘Global Britain’ in a more sustainable way. “The Court of Appeal dismissed all appeals against the government – […]
Heathrow’s expansion plans blocked by court
The UK’s court of appeal has ruled in favour of London mayor Sadiq Khan, Hillingdon Council and various environmental groups, including Greenpeace, as they rule the third runway expansion of Heathrow illegal. The expansion was ruled illegal as ministers had not assessed how this expansion will be consistent with the Paris agreement targets, that aim […]
Aberdeen Standard to expand dnata City East
Aberdeen Standard Investments’ Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT) fund has signed a pre-let agreement to further expand dnata City East at Heathrow Airport. The 115,000 sq ft facility has been designed to operate in conjunction with a newly-completed 250,000 sq ft warehouse handling Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo’s airfreight at Heathrow. The existing […]
Virgin and Delta future proof cargo joint venture
Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo have future proofed their joint venture with the opening of the London Heathrow export facility. Opened on schedule, the new facility is the first phase of the two airline’s expansion programme to double cargo handling capacity at Heathrow to meet projected growth. The new dnata City East facility offers […]
Virgin Atlantic to provide more choice at Heathrow
Virgin Atlantic wants to provide cargo customers with more choice by challenging IAG’s dominance at London’s Heathrow Airport. The airport handles over 70% of UK air cargo, totalling 1.7 million tonnes per annum, a figure that is projected to grow to three million by 2040. Over 30% of British trade flies through the airport, valued […]
Virgin Atlantic touches down in Tel Aviv for first time
Virgin Atlantic first flight to Tel Aviv touched down yesterday (Wednesday 25 September) with a full cargo payload of cargo. The daily Airbus A330-300 service offers 20 tonnes of cargo to and from London’s Heathrow Airport as well as connections to major US gateways. With support from freight forwarders, Virgin Atlantic Cargo is confident of […]
AIS users work with CCS-UK for automatic updates
Two users of the Advance Information System (AIS) module are working with CCS-UK and CCS-UK User Group to provide forwarders and hauliers with automatic status updates. Handling agents dnata and ASC can provide agents and hauliers at Heathrow Airport delivering or collecting cargo with regular updates direct into their system or via the AIS portal. […]
HAE Group supports regional growth
Multi-platform air cargo service provider HAE Group has a philosophy of supporting regional development, managing director Colin White tells Air Cargo Week. The service provider, which was founded in 1997 at East Midlands Airport has had a strong start to 2019, with business in Ireland up 20% year-on-year and the UK by 15%. In the […]
Businesses adopt a wait and see approach
Businesses may have adopted a wait and see approach but whatever the future holds, trade will continue to flow says Chris O’Donnell, managing director UK for Air Logistics Group (ALG). He says the UK market has softened significantly since the end of 2018, and though Brexit is partly responsible, it is also part of the […]
Virgin and Delta to add flights for summer 2020
Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines will boost UK-US flights for the summer of 2020, joining forces at London’s Gatwick Airport for the first time. Gatwick will become Delta’s seventh trans-Atlantic destination with flights from Boston starting on 22 May. One day before, Virgin will launch daily flights to New York JFK from Gatwick, with […]
Swissport extends lease at Heathrow Cargo Centre
Swissport has committed to 10 more years at SEGRO’s Heathrow Cargo Centre by signing a 10-year lease on a 104,000 square foot warehouse unit on Shoreham Road. The Cargo Centre covers 1.2 million square foot and has a unique airside location offering direct access to the apron, reducing waiting times and providing more certainty around […]
National Crime Agency strikes gold at Heathrow
The National Crime Agency has seized gold worth £4 million as part of an international investigation into a suspected South American drugs cartel. The shipment was detained at Heathrow Airport on 1 June by officers from Border Force, acting on intelligence from the NCA. It arrived in the Cayman Islands on a private jet from […]