BA World Cargo invests £15 million in new premium facility at London Heathrow (10/06/2005)

British Airways World Cargo has announced a £15 million investment in a new, bespoke premium facility at London Heathrow.

The 7,200 sq m (77,000 sq ft) development, to be built adjacent to Ascentis, BA World Cargo's existing state-of-the-art cargo handling centre, will double the carrier's current premium handling capacity and is expected to be operational by Autumn 2006.

The new facility will use the latest technology to deliver world-class customer service and will complement the current operations of Ascentis.

Gareth Kirkwood, managing director, BA World Cargo said: "The decision to invest in a new premium building is the latest move in a series of high profile investments in our business. We are investing more in our network than ever before. Last year we launched the first direct freighter service from the UK to Shanghai and, earlier this year, a new product, Constant Fresh, as part of a £1 million investment in our perishables business. These actions demonstrate our commitment to our customers and further strengthen our position as a leading cargo carrier."

Andy Warwick, manager global sales & marketing said: "This latest investment in our business is in direct response to customer demand. The purpose built facility will deliver speed on the ground, significantly greater handling capability, the ability to grow volumes on our existing Premium product range and the flexibility we need to handle new and emerging product streams."