Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), part of SATS, has extended its cargo handling agreement with China Eastern Airlines at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for a further three years, reinforcing an existing partnership as the Chinese carrier restores its direct connection between Shanghai and Stockholm.
The renewed contract coincides with China Eastern’s return to non-stop operations between Shanghai and the Swedish capital, following a six-year break. WFS previously handled China Eastern’s cargo operations in Sweden, having started working with the airline in 2018.
China Eastern is now operating three round-trip services per week between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Stockholm. Flights are scheduled on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the airline expecting the route to generate more than 1,000 tonnes of cargo traffic each year between the two cities.
Beyond air connectivity, the Shanghai-Stockholm link plays an important role in supporting trade and tourism between Scandinavia and Asia, providing a direct channel for the movement of goods between the two regions.
“We are delighted to welcome back China Eastern as a valuable customer of WFS at Stockholm Arlanda,” said Kim Elfstrom, Managing Director Sweden at WFS. “We enjoyed a strong working relationship in Sweden before the pandemic and have maintained our close Scandinavian ties with the airline through our ongoing contract in Copenhagen.”
WFS currently operates two cargo terminals at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, covering a combined area of more than 18,000 square metres. The company’s facilities include newly established Good Distribution Practice (GDP)-certified capabilities for pharmaceutical cargo, as well as road transport services.
At the airport, WFS provides cargo handling and trucking services to more than 20 international airlines and freight forwarding customers.
The renewed China Eastern agreement adds to a series of recent developments for WFS in Stockholm. Over the past 12 months, the company has also extended its cargo handling contract with Singapore Airlines and signed a new handling agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways, further consolidating its position in the Stockholm air cargo market.
