The importance of air cargo facilities in a modern airport

When considering the way an airport works, one of the first things you consider is the passengers. This is completely understandable, after all, without passengers there is little need for airports, and they are the most visible aspects of transport. This means that air cargo facilities are one of the most understated, yet vital, elements of any airport’s operations. Read on to learn more about the importance of air cargo facilities in a modern airport, and why they play such a key role.

The importance of air cargo

Air cargo is one of the most important things airports handle. Good air cargo handling means that the passengers receive their goods in a timely manner, whilst cargo flights that exclusively transport goods around the world, from Andorra to Qatar, get all of their goods to the destination in time for their clients. These features mean that air cargo is at the core of a successful airport operation.

Documentation and control

Of course, one of the most important aspects of transporting air cargo isn’t having space for the cargo or the apron space for disembarking, but the documentation and control of goods. This documentation tells the receiving airport what is in every shipment and the purpose of shipping. To resolve this difficulty, airports put significant teams in charge of reading through documentation and ensuring that everything is safe. This helps process the goods whilst keeping everyone at the airport safe and secure throughout the goods management process.

The cargo terminal

In addition to having a team in place to resolve difficulties with documentation, airports have a significant amount of space dedicated to ensuring that there is enough capacity for all of the necessary cargo. This cargo terminal is a key part of the functionality of an airport, holding all of the cargo an airport receives until the right courier or recipient picks it up. Cargo terminals have a significant amount of specific technology in place, with highly mechanised cargo terminals using conveyors, container stacks and more to move goods quickly and store them in an efficient manner. Where documentation is a strong start, a highly-tailored terminal means the airport fulfils all of its cargo needs.

Flow-Through Cargo

Another concern for a lot of different airports is the specific needs of flow-through cargo. This is cargo that enters the airport on a plane only to leave the country again, with the airport as a simple fuel stop along the way. In these cases, processing the cargo has a unique challenge. Documentation is minimal, but the airport requires temporary storage for all of the cargo when taking the cargo off the plan is necessary. This requires another terminal, adding another challenge to the air cargo side of an airport. Controlling the flow of cargo is essential, as flow-through cargo being in the wrong place risks losing some of the precious passenger goods.

If you’re considering air cargo facilities for an airport, get in touch with the Bayanat Engineering team today. We support airport operations across the world and play a key role in ensuring that you have all the cargo transport and management equipment your airport needs.