Tania Boyes, Director-Cargo
Operations at Virgin Atlantic, puts it on the line:
“Moving into dnata City East later
this year will be a game changer for us and our joint venture with Delta
Cargo.
“It will not only double our capacity
at Heathrow and provide space to grow, it reinforces our commitment to
be easier to do business with, to use new technologies and automation
to simplify and improve our customer experience, and to leverage our partnerships.
“At a time when Virgin Atlantic is
achieving record volumes, this gives us a platform for long-term growth.
“We also wish to acknowledge dnata’s
foresight in working with us to make this possible.”
Virgin and Delta Cargo, for the record,
will move into London Heathrow’s most state-of-the-art cargo facility.
The move supports the airlines’ growing
cargo businesses, enhances their trans-Atlantic partnership for customers,
and firmly secures the joint venture’s position in the U.K. market
by doubling the size of their cargo footprint at the airport.
Rafael Figueroa, Delta Cargo’s Managing
Director-Operations and Customer Experience said:
“This state-of-the art facility will
put the customer at the forefront with improved facilities and innovative
technology solutions, as well as positioning Delta Cargo and Virgin Atlantic
Cargo for future growth in this key market.”
The Joint
Is Jumping
Actually Virgin and Delta’s cargo
operations have been aligned under one-roof in the U.K. since June 2016.
Additionally both carriers share cargo facilities at major U.S. gateways,
notably Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York, Orlando, and Washington Dulles
with the objective to create an enhanced customer proposition on both
sides of the Atlantic.
 All
The Bells & Whistles
The move to the purpose built facility,
scheduled for the second half of 2019, will ultimately increase the size
of Virgin and Delta’s cargo operation at Heathrow to 335,000 sq
ft and see customers benefit from greater automation and faster truck
and cargo handling times.
Inside the cargo facility, investments in
technology will enable staff using handheld devices to efficiently manage
the flow of cargo, while the double-train ETV system will increase storage
to 245 positions for pallets and containers.
Customer trucks arriving at the Virgin Delta
Cargo will benefit from a new door management system, through which drivers
can complete paperwork at the gatehouse on arrival without leaving their
vehicles, and then be immediately assigned to one of the facility’s
18 cargo doors.
Talks To
The Animals
The new location will also provide further
benefits for customers to move temperature-controlled healthcare and life
science products, as well as offering a dedicated perishables zone and
an enlarged AVI center for live animals.
Long
Promised Road Delivered
Gary Morgan, dnata’s CEO in the UK,
noted: “dnata’s relationship with Virgin Atlantic Cargo spans
more than 30 years and has, most recently, been enhanced by Virgin’s
joint venture with Delta Cargo.
“As a key partner, we are excited
to be supporting the growth of both airlines by not only investing in
this brand new facility but by also embracing their commitment to using
new technologies to achieve service efficiencies and benefits for their
customers. dnata City East gives us the opportunity to design a facility
which is tailored to Virgin and Delta’s long-term ambitions within
the expanding Heathrow environment.”
Geoffrey
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Vol.
18 No. 3
100%
Green