The first export shipment has left Teesside Airport’s cargo handling facility, following more than a dozen import movements in a fortnight.
The fully accredited facility most recently worked with aviation services group Air Partner, a Wheels Up company, to handle its first export. Air Partner’s team in Cologne arranged the charter following an urgent request from a German freight forwarder that urgently required automotive parts to be flown to Stockholm for a global car manufacturer. It comes after the facility handled 13 import consignments of automotive parts across 12 charters, all coming from Hungary, working with Air Partner and CharterSync to manage the shipments.
The movements have been overseen by the airport’s head of cargo, Walter Jones, who came to the airport following the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. His role is one of the first to be created at the site, with 30 further jobs expected to come when it is fully operational.
The £2.5m purpose-built 21,000sq ft hangar provides cutting-edge security screening technology, as well as handling, freight-forwarding, customs clearage and storage. The facility, which has secured Regulated Agent status to handle secure cargo, can also be used for specialised charter flights for both air and road freight. Its central location means almost 95% of England, Wales and Scotland can be covered in six hours.
Turnaround plan
Forming part of the Teesside Freeport, the service is a key part of the airport’s ten-year turnaround plan, alongside the £200m Southside Business Park development, to diversify its revenue streams and further secure the airport’s financial future.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “While it’s still very early days for the airport’s new cargo operations, it has already managed to turn around a number of crucial consignments in a very short space of time – leading to very satisfied customers.
“I’m massively proud of what’s been achieved so far as we continue to make Teesside Airport about more than just flights to popular holiday destinations and get businesses to back us as much as local people have.
“With more than 70,000 companies within an hour of the airport, the opportunity for growth – even on our doorstep – is huge.”
Image: Teesside International Airport/ Air Partner
