WFS buys Excel Cargo Montreal operations

WFS buys Excel Cargo Montreal operations    Worldwide Flight Services said it has become the largest cargo handler in Montreal, Canada, by purchasing the assets of Excel Cargo at Montreal's Dorval and Mirabel airports.
   The combined operation of both airports, including the existing WFS operation at Dorval, will have close to 150 employees and will function under the WFS name and brand.
   “This is a large and important acquisition for WFS as it establishes itself as the major cargo handling partner in Canada,” said Olivier Bijaoui, president and chief executive officer. WFS also provides handling in Halifax, Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto.
   “Growth in Canada forms part of the strategic plan for developing WFS's presence in North America,” the company said. “Since January 2011, WFS has been awarded 24 new cargo contracts in North America worth $11 million and retained a further 10 contracts that were part of competitive bid processes.”
   Bijaoui said WFS has also recently appointed Michel Defays as senior vice president Canada.
   WFS's existing customers — British Airways, Finnair, Forwardair and US Airways — have transferred operations into the larger Excel Cargo premises at Dorval, adjacent to Customs, to achieve greater efficiency, the company said. The new operation will continue to provide services to Excel's Dorval airline customers — Aer Lingus, Air Transat, CSA, Cubana, First Air, Qantas and SAS — as well as to more than 45 freight forwarding organizations.
   The Dorval facility is equipped with 12 dock doors, a large cooler facility for temperature-controlled shipments and a dedicated freezer. WFS said customers will benefit from access to these larger facilities and to X-ray equipment for cargo screening that will be transferred. More than 2,700 tons of air freight per month will be handled in the new Dorval operation. Mirabel will remain at its current location.