The North American air cargo market is witnessing a significant expansion as Cathay Cargo, Asia's premier freight carrier, deepens its partnership with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the world's leading ground handling provider. The companies recently signed a long-term cargo handling agreement that will see WFS commence full cargo handling operations for Cathay at Portland International Airport (PDX) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
WFS launched services at Portland on March 18 and at Dallas/Fort Worth on April 15. This collaboration builds upon their existing partnership, where WFS already provides cargo handling for Cathay at Boston (BOS), Houston (IAH), and Los Angeles (LAX), along with ground handling services at New York (JFK) and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Strategic Timing With New Passenger Routes
The expanded partnership coincides with Cathay Pacific's launch of direct passenger flights between Hong Kong and Dallas on April 24. The four weekly passenger flights will not only serve travelers but also create significant bellyhold capacity that will complement Cathay's existing cargo operations, offering North American customers more diversified transport options.
Tom Owen, Cathay Pacific's Director of Cargo, stated: "We're delighted to strengthen our successful partnership with WFS in the Americas, building on our productive collaborations in Los Angeles, Houston, and Boston." He emphasized that the expansion would leverage WFS's modern cargo terminal in Portland and dedicated warehouse space in Dallas/Fort Worth, combined with Cathay's new passenger services, to deliver enhanced customer service.
Coast-to-Coast Coverage
Michael Simpson, Executive Vice President of WFS Americas Gateway, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded relationship: "WFS is honored to extend our long-standing partnership with Cathay Cargo to Portland and Dallas/Fort Worth." He noted that these new contracts build on WFS's proven track record of delivering exceptional cargo handling services for Cathay across major U.S. cities, creating comprehensive coast-to-coast coverage.
WFS has been actively expanding its U.S. operations, recently completing an expansion of its cargo facilities at JFK Airport with a new cargo terminal. This investment demonstrates the company's commitment to strengthening its position in the competitive American air cargo market.
The partnership between these industry leaders promises to elevate service quality and operational efficiency in North America's air cargo sector. By combining WFS's extensive U.S. ground handling network with Cathay's global reach, the collaboration is positioned to meet growing customer demands while contributing to the development of international trade flows.