Swissport has announced the opening of a brand-new temperature-controlled cargo facility at Kilimanjaro International Airport, increasing cold chain capacity and strengthening its African cargo network whilst reinforcing its own position as a provider of specialist cargo handling across the nation.
The new facility aims to enhance cargo handling capacity for exporters, airlines, and freight forwarders by providing cold chain infrastructure that strives to protect both the quality and integrity of temperature-sensitive shipments, improve operational efficiency, and expand access to global markets.
Spanning 630 m²; the facility has been developed in order to meet growing demand from exporters across Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, one of East Africa’s leading horticultural production regions, as well as address longstanding capacity constraints whilst providing a modern replacement for the airport’s previous cargo facility, which had served the industry since 1998.
The site features a set of four temperature-controlled chillers and one freezer, providing storage support for items with temperatures from +2°C to +25°C, alongside dedicated frozen storage between -10°C and -20°C. It has been designed to handle up to 13,000 tonnes of cargo annually, and can accommodate up to 6 built-up cargo pallets – the equivalent of approximately 180 tonnes of cargo.
Now fully operational, the facility will enhance Swissport’s overall ability to handle perishable exports such as flowers, fresh produce, seafood, meat, and other temperature-sensitive products, whilst providing additional capability for pharmaceutical shipments and other temperature-sensitive cargo. Elsewhere, the facility incorporates a range of advanced digital technologies, including an Integrated Weighing System connected to Swissport’s cargo management platform, mobile cargo scanning, and automated cargo tracking capabilities.
Roughly 90% of ground support equipment serving the site is powered by purely electrical means, and the facility itself incorporates energy-efficient LED lighting. It has been certified to ISO 14001 environmental management standards.
Dirk Goovaerts, CEO Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa & India, and Global Cargo Chair, said:This facility reflects our long-term commitment to Tanzania and reinforces Swissport's cargo network in one of East Africa's most important export regions.
As demand for perishables and other temperature-sensitive shipments continues to grow across Africa, customers increasingly value partners that combine local expertise with consistent global operating standards. This facility forms part of our broader strategy to invest in modern cargo infrastructure across Africa, supporting the safe and efficient handling of temperature-sensitive shipments.
The investment forms part of Swissport’s strategy to expand specialised carog infrastructure at a number of key air cargo gateways across Africa, with the Kilimanjaro facility set to complement the company’s established cargo operations in Dar es Salaam and form part of a broader African cargo network that includes key gateways such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Accra – combing to provide a network of over 120 cargo centres worldwide.
