Air China has extended its longstanding cargo handling contracts with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, in France and the United Kingdom by three more years.

The airline said it has been a major customer of WFS at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport since the early 1990s.

"This latest contract extension in Paris sees WFS handling cargo carried onboard 12 to 14 passenger flights per week connecting the French capital with Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai, as well as 10 weekly freighter services linking Paris with Chengdu and Hangzhou," it said in a statement.

Additionally, the contract in Paris, which also includes ramp handling, enables Air China and its cargo customers to benefit from WFS' national trucking network in France and offline handling services at more than 10 regional French airports. 

In the United Kingdom, Air China has awarded contract extensions to WFS at London's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

At Heathrow, Air China operates 24 passenger flights per week carrying cargo to and from Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai.

WFS is also contracted to provide cargo handling services for the airline's 14 flights, which connect London Gatwick with Beijing and Shanghai each week.

WFS is also providing countrywide road transport services and offline handling at other major regional airports for Air China in the UK.

"Air China is a major customer of WFS across our international network. Our strong global partnership continues to grow, based on our ability to meet all the airline’s service and growth expectations," said John Batten, chief executive officer, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA) of WFS.