Turkish Cargo has appointed Lödige Industries to implement automation and digital solutions for the expansion of its SMARTIST air cargo terminal in Istanbul. This development is part of the second phase of the terminal project, which was announced earlier this year. The primary goal of this expansion is to significantly increase the terminal's annual handling capacity, elevating it from 2 million tons to 4.5 million tons.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this expansion signifies a substantial increase in air cargo capacity at a key global hub. Enhanced automation and digital technology are expected to improve operational efficiency, potentially leading to faster turnaround times for cargo and better schedule reliability. This could alleviate some pressure on air freight capacity, particularly for routes connecting through Istanbul, and offer more flexibility for routing shipments. The increased capacity may also help stabilize or reduce air freight rates by providing more supply in the long term.
