Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has launched a pilot project with global logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel to accelerate import cargo clearances at Frankfurt Airport.

The project, created by WFS's dedicated E-commerce & Freight Forwarder Handling (EFFH) team alongside Kuehne+Nagel Frankfurt, focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the operations team and maximizing warehouse capacity to minimize waiting times and eliminate unnecessary storage costs.

 [Source: WFS]

WFS noted that early results already show significant improvements in air cargo delivery times, supported by a trucking control tower set up for the pilot to schedule truck movements between the FCS warehouse and the Kuehne+Nagel Gateway warehouse and process all customer requests and inquiries immediately.

Using the control tower means WFS/FCS does not have to wait until a freight forwarder's truck driver registers at its Frankfurt facility to commence the cargo outsourcing process.

Instead, import cargo is loaded onto WFS/FCS' own trucks and delivered directly to Kuehne+Nagel via close communication between both parties.

"This pilot project in Frankfurt is designed to show us how the handling and clearance processes developed for WFS' EFFH product can significantly accelerate air cargo delivery in the import process by reducing clearance times," said Michael Jonas, vice president of Kuehne+Nagel.

"By implementing these processes within the cargo operation, any necessary adjustments can be made quickly to enable more efficient resource planning and utilization," he added.

Soheyl Rahmani, VP EFFH EMEAA at WFS, added: "With this enhanced import delivery service, we are working to make the import cargo handling process more efficient to enable us to offer freight forwarders in Frankfurt a more reliable and cost-efficient service moving forward."

"We are proud to be partnering with Kuehne+Nagel in this launch initiative, which we hope and expect to lead to broader import handling benefits for the wider cargo community at the airport."

The announcement noted that the EFFH team is also reviewing the implementation and optimisation of e-commerce and freight-forwarding products at all WFS locations in the EMEAA region.