Rhenus announces strategic investment in air freight Gateway at Heathrow

March 14 2023 Print This Article

Leading logistics service provider Rhenus Group has announced a strategic investment for the UK market with the opening of a new air freight gateway at its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Regulated Screening site close to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

The new facility is equipped with latest technology, cargo screening and air freight handling equipment, allowing customers of Rhenus to access to a full complement of air freight cargo handling capabilities. All time critical or sensitive cargo shipments will be handled efficiently without the need for third party screening or ULD build up.

Rhenus has made a significant investment in vertical markets such as life sciences and healthcare, perishable cargo and full vehicle logistics as part of plans to strengthen its service offering. The Gateway will also act as a consolidation hub, allowing Rhenus to increase consolidation services globally, working in partnership with RHEGREEN, the world’s first carbon reduction programme for air freight.

“This new handling and cross-docking facility at London Heathrow enables our skilled and experienced team to service an increasingly wide range of highly demanding and regulated industry sectors and all to the high and exacting standards of Rhenus,” said Martijn Stieva, Head of Airfreight North-West Europe. “The new gateway enhances our global air freight cargo proposition, ensuring we can handle all time-critical, sensitive shipments. We have invested in the latest X-Ray and Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) cargo screening equipment to boost our offering, and also in specialised air freight handling equipment to support unitised cargo. Our goal is to increase the volume of tonnage handled at the Gateway five-fold.”

“We are excited to confirm this significant investment for Rhenus and to announce the launch of the new Gateway,” added Spencer Davern, Managing Director, Rhenus Air and Ocean UK. “Our commitment to quality, efficiency and sustainability is at the forefront of this investment which is supported by our experienced workforce.  Since our Heathrow site opened in May 2022, we have created a significant amount of jobs in the local community. Rhenus will continue with its intake of apprentices and graduates whilst ensuring that learning and development is accessible to all UK colleagues and actively encouraged.”

The new air freight hub in the UK joins the global Rhenus Gateway network of strategic locations including Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Miami, Newark, Shanghai and Sao Paulo.  

Key accreditations held by Rhenus Air & Ocean UK include AEO, ISO 9001, ISO14001, IATA and WDA.