Etihad Cargo has named Worldwide Flight Services, a member of the SATS Group, as handling partner for its stations in the United States.

The partnership, which started on 3 October, will see WFS provide cargo handling services for the carrier at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), at New York JFK International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Etihad Cargo will have access to two of WFS’ dedicated parking positions outside its cargo warehouse at ORD as well as a new state-of-the-art facility, which features temperature-controlled storage rooms. This new facility is equipped with a large cool room with capacity for eight pallets, which is expected to enhance the airline’s cool chain capabilities in the region

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“WFS’ investment in new facilities at ORD and JFK, growth in our cargo business in North America, and unwavering focus on service quality are the cornerstones of our partnership with Etihad Cargo,” said Frank Clemente, Senior Vice President Cargo and Express, North America at WFS.

“We are introducing digital solutions for efficient dock management and landside operations, investing in auto-dimensioning equipment to improve accuracy, implementing IATA DG Autocheck for safer handling of dangerous goods, and providing real-time warehouse progress monitoring for customers.

“We are also introducing an automated pallet storage system called Raft to optimise storage and retrieval efficiency,” he ended.