WFS acquires US cargo handler Pinnacle Logistics

WFS acquires US cargo handler Pinnacle Logistics 

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has acquired IAS Logistics DFW, LLC (also known as Pinnacle Logistics), a leading provider of cargo handling services in the United States. The companies have not disclosed the financial details yet. 

Pinnacle Logistics is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, The United States, strengthening WFS’s cargo handling platform in the States. The company is focussed on specialist express cargo handling for e-commerce customers. 

WFS is also handling cargo in London, Liege, Amsterdam, France, Japan, Spain and more. 

Michael Simpson, WFS’s EVP Americas, commented, “The acquisition of Pinnacle Logistics enhances our core cargo and express cargo handling value proposition to customers, and Pinnacle’s established trucking logistics business further expands our service offering. Pinnacle’s people bring renowned experience and expertise, great service quality, and long-standing customer relationships with them to WFS. This acquisition is a strong strategic and cultural fit for WFS and we are delighted to welcome the Pinnacle team to WFS.”

The acquisition delivers on WFS’s commercial growth strategy, which includes accelerating revenue growth in cargo handling through product development including high-growth specialist e-commerce handling.

Srilankan Airlines awards WFS cargo handling contract at London Heathrow

 Srilankan Airlines awards WFS cargo handling contract at London Heathrow

SriLankan Airlines is the new customer at Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) CenterPoint cargo handling terminal at London Heathrow.

The airline has awarded WFS with a 32-month contract, commencing in September, to provide cargo handling and airside transport for its Airbus A330-300 flights connecting London and Colombo. SriLankan currently operates a weekly flight on the route but is expected to increase frequencies as the airline industry recovers from the disruption to schedules caused by Covid. Prior to the pandemic, SriLankan Airlines carried some 9,500 tonnes of cargo annually between the two countries.

Paul Carmody, WFS’ managing director – UK Cargo, commented, “This is a very important new contract for our UK operation and justifies WFS’ decision to invest further in our Heathrow operation with the opening of CenterPoint. The facility has been extensively refurbished to meet our requirements and will ensure our team at Heathrow can provide the first class standards of service SriLankan Airlines demands for its customers.”

WFS now operates over 350,000 sq. ft. of cargo facilities at Heathrow, handling hundreds of thousands of tonnes of cargo per annum. In the last 12 months, the UK operation has also been successful in winning a new contract with Gulf Air and extending its existing cargo handling agreement with Vietnam Airlines.

Chamara Ranasinghe, head of Cargo at SriLankan Airlines, stated, “As London Heathrow represents a key cargo hub and gateway for the SriLankan Airlines’ cargo network, we are encouraged of the future successes and benefits for SriLankan Cargo customers through the partnership with WFS for managing cargo handling operations, primarily in the handling of the varied commodities uplifted on the route. Such strong partnerships add value and consistency to customers during these tumultuous times and this is an ideal venture supporting the intended expansion of SriLankan Airlines’ operations into London Heathrow in the near future.”

The new CenterPoint facility, which opened this summer, enables WFS to provide an off-airport cargo handling operation at Heathrow to complement its longstanding presence in Heathrow’s World Cargocentre. The building also provides the capacity needed to grow WFS’ Heathrow client portfolio, which currently consists of 14 international airlines.

The building incorporates a mezzanine floor suitable for handling ecommerce, mail and courier shipments in addition to 30,000 sq ft of ground floor space.

“While our cargo volumes have been resilient, the expected resumption of more passenger services ex Heathrow in the coming weeks and months is very welcome news. The addition of CenterPoint, alongside our on-airport cargo terminals at Heathrow, means WFS is especially well-placed to support our current and new airline clients as their cargo volumes grow back to 2019 levels. With our ability to support the handling of special products, including pharmaceuticals and ecommerce shipments, we are ready for any new strategic opportunities this brings to our UK business,” Paul Carmody added.

Vietnam Airlines and WFS collaborate for Amsterdam Cargo Operations

 Vietnam Airlines and WFS collaborate for Amsterdam Cargo Operations

Vietnam Airlines and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) sign a multi-year contract as the airlines new cargo handling partner at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

The contract will see WFS providing full cargo handling services for the airline’s twice-weekly Airbus A350-900 passenger freighter aircraft flights directly connecting freight forwarders, importers and exporters in Amsterdam and Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. 

Stephane Scholving, managing director of WFS in the Netherlands, stated, “Winning this new contract is a tribute to the responsiveness of our team in Amsterdam and the quality of our cargo handling operations. Vietnam Airlines initially asked for our assistance to handle an urgent flight and their positive experience of working with WFS has ultimately led to this long-term agreement. We now look forward to supporting the airline’s customers and flight operations in Amsterdam and contributing to Vietnam Airline’s growth in the Netherlands.”

The new contract is a further boost for WFS’ growing cargo operating in Amsterdam, which has also recently welcomed both LATAM Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines as customers. As well as in Amsterdam, WFS has existing cargo handling contracts with Vietnam Airlines at London Heathrow and in Dublin, and the airline is also a valued client of WFS Fueling in Hong Kong.

Air Europa signs contract extension agreement with WFS

Air Europa signs contract extension agreement with WFS

Spanish Airline Air Europa has signed cargo handling contract extensions with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) in Madrid and Barcelona.

 

The country’s third largest airline, Air Europa has been a WFS customer in Madrid since 2018, and signed its first agreement with the world’s largest cargo handler in Barcelona in January of this year. The new contracts now further extend Air Europa’s partnership with WFS in Spain to Q4 2022.

 

Air Europa operates Boeing 787 and 737-800 passenger aircraft with bellyhold cargo capacity from the two Spanish airports to destinations in Europe and North and South America. The airline’s growing cargo volumes contributed 27,000 tonnes of throughput at WFS’ cargo terminal in Madrid in 2020 as well as hundreds of tonnes in the first five months of its contract in Barcelona.

 

WFS is the leading independent cargo handler in Spain, also offering a third airport facility in Valencia.