SATS Ltd. has unveiled a new Bulk Unitisation Programme (BUP) Handling Centre at Changi Airport, designed to enhance airfreight operations by reducing cargo processing time by 20%. The facility, which spans 3,000 square metres, aims to streamline the handling of BUP shipments—cargo packages assembled by freight forwarders—by cutting processing time from two-and-a-half hours to two hours.
The BUP Handling Centre, operated by SATS Cargo, features six lanes and six weighing stations, allowing for more efficient processing compared to the previous system. This improvement is expected to offer customers greater flexibility and quicker response times, particularly for time-sensitive shipments. The facility also aims to alleviate congestion at existing airfreight terminals and improve the overall efficiency of cargo operations.
Kuah Boon Kiam, Senior Vice-President of Cargo Services at SATS Singapore Hub, stated, “The BUP Handling Centre’s enhanced processes are a game-changer for SATS Cargo operations at Changi Airport. The new facility will allow faster, safer, and more efficient processing and handling of air cargo shipments, by day and by night and in all-weather conditions.”
The centre will also serve as a testbed for new systems and processes that could be implemented at Changi Airport’s upcoming Terminal 5 and the Changi East Industrial Zone. This development underscores SATS’ commitment to maintaining Singapore’s status as a leading global aviation and logistics hub.
As SATS continues to expand its operations globally, the company remains committed to its Singaporean roots, with plans to invest over $250 million in upgrading ground support equipment and cargo handling infrastructure at Changi Airport.
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