Air Cargo Community Advisory Body gathers to drive Cargo Operations Transformation

Following its successful launch earlier this year, the Air Cargo Community Advisory Body — established by BIFA — held its second meeting recently.

The meeting brought  together key stakeholders from across the airfreight and logistics sector to continue to help shape the future of cargo operations at Heathrow Airport.

The session built on the momentum of the inaugural meeting held in May, which saw over 75 representatives — including freight forwarders, airlines, Heathrow Airport Ltd, HMRC, and ground handlers — convene at the BT Tower to initiate a new phase of collaboration focused on the airport’s ambitious cargo estate redevelopment plans.

The latest meeting centred on efforts to improve Heathrow’s landside efficiency. Attendees received updates from Heathrow Airport Ltd on ongoing developments at the airport, and from BT/CCS-UK regarding the selection and implementation of a new slot booking system for landside freight movements.

After reviewing several options, the Heathrow cargo community chose BT’s CCS-UK Advanced Information System (AIS) as the preferred solution. Magdalena Deitsche, Senior Cargo Manager at Heathrow Airport Ltd, said the system’s operational flexibility, integration with existing customs infrastructure, and BT’s strong understanding of the Heathrow landscape made it a standout choice.

“With AIS, the community will be better equipped to manage landside traffic flows, reduce wait times, and improve the efficiency of cargo drop-offs and collections — especially critical for time-sensitive freight,” she explained.

The meeting also highlighted a new trial of a dedicated truck parking facility to better accommodate long-distance arrivals. This facility offers a safe holding area outside the main cargo estate and includes welfare amenities for drivers. 

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