Consolidated Aviation Services (CAS), the largest cargo handler in North America, has won the ‘Cargo Handler of the Year 2016’ award at Miami International Airport (MIA) in recognition of its ‘outstanding performance and support to the Miami Dade aviation industry’.
CAS, which was acquired by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) earlier this year, is the largest cargo handler at MIA and operates eight cargo facilities at the airport, handling nearly 500,000 tonnes of cargo a year on behalf of 18 airline customers. It was originally founded in Miami in 1989 and now the combined CAS and WFS operation at the airport employs over 1,000 people.
The winner of MIA’s first-ever Cargo Handler of the Year award was selected by a panel of aviation experts representing the Miami Dade Aviation Community, IATA, Boeing and the aircraft maintenance company, HEICO.
In its written submission, CAS highlighted how its ePic operating system has innovated cargo handling processes for its airline customers by bringing wireless and paperless technology into its operations with seamless messaging interfaces to its customers’ IT systems. It also listed its computer-based training modules, including local versions in Spanish and Creole, and its $2 million investment in its perishables handling facilities, which includes a new 30,000 sq ft centre opened in 2015.
In terms of its future commitment to customers in Miami, CAS is working to extend its perishables handling capacity at the airport in 2017 and is investing in a new temperature-controlled facility for pharmaceutical shipments. It has also partnered with Miami International Airport to become one of the first IATA CEIV Pharma-certified handlers in North America.
Mike Duffy, Americas’ Chief Executive Officer at WFS, said: “Miami is a showcase station for CAS and for WFS and is one of the most dynamic cargo gateways in the world. The cargo handling market there is extremely competitive and this award is the best possible recognition for our team at the airport. They have helped us to become number one and to sustain this position through the service they deliver to our customers every day. We also want to thank the Miami-Dade Aviation Community for introducing this award and recognising the importance of high quality handling services to the continued growth of the airport and its local community.”
