EL AL, Israel’s national airline, hasawarded its cargo handling contract atLondon Heathrow to Worldwide FlightServices (WFS).
The airline currently operates 13flights a week from Heathrow to TelAviv. Using a combination of Boeing777, 767, 757 and 747 passenger aircraft,EL AL carries more than 65 tonnes ofcargo per week from London.
WFS is also responsible for buildingfreighter pallets bound for the airline’sall-cargo services from Amsterdam Schiphol, Liege and Luxembourgthat offer EL AL’s customers onwardconnections to the US and Asia.
WFS will also handle some 145 tonnesa week of inbound cargo into the UKfor EL AL, carried on the airline’spassenger and freighter operations. 20EL AL employees will be transfered toWFS as part of this agreement.
Patrick Roberts, vice president, UK & Ireland for WFS, said: "A number offactors contributed to EL AL’s decisionto choose WFS. Our ability to offer adedicated area for EL AL’s cargo in our Building 550 operation at Heathrow ¨C a facility within a facility ¨C was an important factor."
Robin Brown, cargo manager, UK& Ireland, EL AL, commented: "Ourmanagement team in Tel Aviv werevery impressed by the WFS peoplethey met during our negotiations andhere at Heathrow, we are extremelypleased with the level of support, careand attention our business has receivedso far.
There will obviously be a settlingin period with a transition of this sizeand complexity but we are confidentchoosing WFS will be a very positive development for EL AL Cargo, the staff that manage our cargo operation and our customers."
