For the first time in three decades, JFK Airport is debuting a new cargo terminal.
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) announced the facility’s opening on Monday, Feb. 3, following its launch at the end of January.
The new facility signifies WFS’s expanding warehouse footprint at JFK, as the agency now exceeds 1 million square feet across eight facilities. WFS is the airport’s largest provider of cargo handling services, currently serving 38 international and domestic airlines at JFK.
Known as Building 260 in Jamaica, the newly opened facility features 350,000 square feet of floor space, with building features including cutting-edge technology, environmental sustainability practices, and safety and security protocols.
Building 260 increases WFS’ cargo capacity at JFK by 25% and offers unique features, including the first-ever dedicated on-airport handling facility for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products and perishable cargo. The temperature-controlled facility includes over 3,000 square feet of cooler space that can store the goods at temperatures ranging between 2-8°C or 15-25°C.
Building 260 was designed with multiple safety features. It includes dock and polymer marriers to prevent accidental trailer movement for safe loading and unloading, impact-resistant doors, and column protection systems to protect from damage from forklifts and moving equipment.
Other innovative features include a Dock Management System that generates pre-alerts to improve efficiency and predictability for cargo pickups and drop-offs. This is expected to reduce truck dwell times by as much as 25% by generating pre-alerts to reduce air waybill processing time.
Building 260 is equipped with some of the latest technology, including Warehouse Progress Monitoring (WPM) to give customers real-time visibility, to Auto Dimensioning Equipment for compliance with carrier requirements, and IATA Dangerous Goods (DG) Autocheck for safety and security.
The new facility is committed to sustainability, featuring electric forklift trucks and EV charging stations for ground support equipment and vehicles used by customers and employees. Additionally, the centralized ETV system automates ULD dispatch to the ramp and warehouse to minimize equipment usage.
Mike Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Services, Americas at WFS, said that WFS is proud of its 41 years of service for JFK customers. Simpson said Building 260 marks a new area for WFS and air cargo at one of the main gateways to the U.S.
“This cutting-edge facility reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in our drive to serve customers better. Building 260 sets new standards for efficiency and safety and is a showpiece not just for JFK’s aviation ecosystem but for the air cargo industry worldwide. The facility embodies our dedication to connecting the world through logistics and embraces new levels of digitalization and sustainability that will act as a model for other new cargo operations around the world,” Simpson said in a statement.
