New cargo flows at Changi
Sats has opened a BUP handling centre at Singapore Changi airport, designed to accelerate bulk unitisation programme shipments (BUP) assembled by forwarders or shippers.
Covering half a soccer field at Sats Cargo’s airfreight terminal the sheltered facility cuts minimum processing times by 20%, from 2.5 to 2 hours. It enables checks on documentation, weighing and compatibility with aircraft holds before cargo is towed directly airside for uplift. The move frees capacity at existing terminals, eases roadway congestion and improves handling for time-critical shipments.
The centre also serves as a testbed for enhanced systems that could be deployed at Changi’s planned terminal 5 and in the Changi East Industrial Zone. Kuah Boon Kiam, SVP cargo services at SG Hub, said the project marks a “game-changer” for Sats’s cargo operations, supporting the Singapore air hub’s ability to compete. (ah)