UPS air hubs reopen after temporary weather closure

[caption id="attachment_87649" align="alignright" width="450"] UPS Worldport in Kentucky. Photo courtesy of UPS.[/caption] UPS’ Worldport air hub at Louisville Airport (SDF) is once again operational after inclement weather prompted the express company to temporarily suspend Monday sort operations and cancel inbound domestic flights at what is normally a 24-hour facility. A second regional air hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was also idled on Monday night as multiple storm systems barreled across the United States. “We are now back in full operation at both SDF and DFW,” a spokesperson told Air Cargo World on Tuesday morning. Monday’s Worldport closure was a response to a forecast calling for heavy snow and ice, and marks the first time the air hub has had to idle operations due to weather. See also: Team Worldwide pivots to preserve perishables amid winter storms UPS is hardly alone in suspending its operations temporarily, as the wide-reaching effects of the storms are disrupting all integrators with national networks. “Prolonged severe weather is continuing to impact much of the FedEx network in the U.S.,” a FedEx spokesperson told Air Cargo World. “We have contingency plans in place to help lessen the effect of inclement weather on operations and service, and we are implementing those plans as we’re able,” FedEx said. Airports like SDF dedicate significant time and resources to optimizing de-icing and snow-removal processes — two of the biggest threats to a stable operation. The airport recently purchased three MB2 multi-use snow removal tractors to reduce the time required to clear its runways, SDF’s vice president of strategy and innovation, Darrell Watson, told Air Cargo World . SDF plans to purchase six more of the MB2 tractors over the next few years. According to Watson, it currently takes between 40 and 45 minutes to clear SDF’s runways under normal snow conditions in Kentucky, but the airport should be able to “cut that in half” after completing its snow equipment fleet upgrade. In 2019, SDF was the No. 4 cargo airport in terms of throughput, according to Air Cargo World 's ranking of the Top 50 Cargo Airports . In 2019, SDF reported handling 2.8 million tonnes, most of it related to UPS' Worldport activity.

UPS air hubs reopen after temporary weather closure

This was the first time weather has forced UPS' Louisville Worldport hub to idle its operations.

Team Worldwide pivots to preserve perishables amid winter storms

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UPS air hubs reopen after temporary weather closure

This was the first time weather has forced UPS' Louisville Worldport hub to idle its operations.

Team Worldwide pivots to preserve perishables amid winter storms

Flexport sees ‘non-existent’ China-US airfreight capacity following CNY

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