Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo will move into the new purpose-built dnata City East cargo facility at London Heathrow in the second half of 2019.

According to the two airlines, the move will support their growing cargo businesses, enhance their trans-Atlantic partnership for customers and future-proof the joint venture’s position in the UK market by doubling the size of their cargo footprint at Heathrow to 335,000 square feet.

“Moving into dnata City East will be a game changer for us and our joint venture with Delta Cargo,” said Tania Boyes, director of cargo operations at Virgin Atlantic. “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.”

The new facility 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 facility will benefit from a new door management system, which allows drivers to complete paperwork at the gatehouse on arrival without leaving their vehicles and to then be immediately assigned to one of the facility’s 18 cargo doors.

“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,” said Rafael Figueroa, managing director of operations and customer experience at Delta Cargo.

The new location will also support customers moving temperature-controlled healthcare and life science products and will offer a dedicated perishables zone as well as an enlarged AVI centre for live animals.

“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,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata UK. “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.”

Virgin and Delta’s cargo operations have been aligned under one roof in the UK since June 2016. The two carriers also share cargo facilities at major US gateways including Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York, Orlando and Washington Dulles.