Freight Oslo Airport will open new seafood cargo centre in 2021

Seafood is one of the leading drivers of air cargo traffic, yet only 35 percent of Norwegian seafood exports are transported from Norway by air cargo. The rest of the Norwegian seafood exports is often trucked to other air cargo centres in continental Europe. Oslo Airport is now planning a new seafood cargo centre to meet the rising demands of Norwegian exporters. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) Sjømatterminalen AS to operate this new Seafood Centre to be opened in 2021.

250.000 metric tons of seafood annually – the seafood centre is designed to meet industry requirements with its 17.000 square meters and fully automatic services. Oslo Airport is thinking ahead: North America and Asia were the fastest growing seafood export markets in 2017 with 600 metric tons being airfreighted to these markets daily from Norway and Continental Europe. With the new seafood centre, Oslo Airport is aiming to increase air cargo from Norway. Current seafood exports are expected to double within 2025.

“We are confident in WFS’ experience in perishable cargo and their commitment to this project," said Oslo Airport's cargo director, Martin Langaas. "This is a unique opportunity to define the future of cool chain logistics for seafood as air cargo. The Seafood Centre at Oslo Airport will increase the competitiveness of Norwegian seafood globally and industrialise the handling,” he added.

Norway covers half the air cargo generated in the Nordic region and Oslo Airport was the fastest growing cargo airport in Europe in 2017 seeing a 36 percent growth rate. Nearly half of the cargo flown in and out of the airport in the past year was seafood. Estimates for this year approximate that seafood as air cargo will reach some 230.000 metric tons.

John Batten, executive vice president cargo EMEAA at WFS, stated: "The seafood industry is a unique opportunity for us to share our experience and excellence in air cargo handling. We look forward to opening a dedicated facility at Oslo Airport that is fully adapted to the future needs of the Seafood industry. Our terminal will be a game changer in the handling of seafood as air cargo and be an important part of ensuring the future growth of one of Norway’s most important industries.”

Construction of the terminal is expected to commence in April 2019, with an opening of the terminal in 2021.