Airport Perishables Warehousing: How Big Are These Facilities?

Perishable items are time-sensitive goods that lose value or expire over time. Effective management of perishable inventory is critical for business success, especially in the food and beverage industry, where expiration dates can be sudden and restocking may not be fast enough to meet demand. Perishable air cargo shipments are a growing business for carriers and airports, with specialised equipment and facilities being developed to handle and monitor these goods. This includes large warehouses at airports, such as the 135,000-square-foot perishables warehouse at JFK Airport in New York, which features three perishable cargo coolers and 24 dock doors.

Perishable items include dairy, produce, flowers, and meat

Perishable items like dairy, meat, and produce are particularly susceptible to bacteria growth and require refrigeration to achieve an acceptable shelf life and to minimise the risk of foodborne illnesses. When stored at the right temperatures, perishable foods can be kept safe from bacteria growth. For example, when food is frozen and kept at 0°F (-17°C) and below, molecules are slowed down so much that bacteria cannot grow.

However, it is important to note that even when stored at the right temperatures, perishable items can still expire before their official expiration date. This may be due to a variety of reasons, such as a refrigeration truck running at too high a temperature or part of a shipment being left out in the sun for too long. Therefore, it is critical to have adequate supplies and to track down problems in storage and supply chains.

The size of airport warehouses for perishable items varies, but they are designed to accommodate a large volume of these items. For example, JFK Airport's perishables warehouse has 135,000 square feet of warehouse capacity, three perishable cargo coolers, and 24 dock doors. Upgrades to these warehouses, such as improved cold storage space, can help get perishable products out quicker and improve produce air imports.

Perishable stock refers to goods that can be stocked, like yoghurt

Perishable stock refers to goods that have a finite lifespan and can be stocked, like yoghurt. Perishable inventory and perishable stock are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can have different meanings. Perishable stock tends to refer to goods that can be stocked, whereas perishable inventory includes goods that cannot be stocked, like hotel rooms or airline tickets. Perishable items include foods like dairy and produce, as well as organic decorations such as flowers or Christmas trees. Perishable stock requires careful management to ensure it doesn't expire before its official date, and businesses need to be able to forecast demand to manage their perishable stock effectively.

Airports are key locations for the handling of perishable goods, with cargo facilities at airports like JFK in New York and DFW in Texas playing a significant role in the transportation of perishable items. These facilities often include large warehouses with cold storage capabilities, which are crucial for preserving perishable goods during transport. The size of these warehouses can vary, with JFK's perishables warehouse spanning 135,000 square feet, while DFW's new cold chain facility is expected to increase the airport's cargo capacity.

The efficient management of perishable stock in airport warehouses is essential to ensure the quality and freshness of goods during transport. This involves monitoring storage conditions, such as refrigeration temperatures, to prevent premature expiration. Additionally, demand forecasting helps businesses anticipate busy periods and special events that may influence demand fluctuations, allowing them to manage their perishable stock effectively.

Perishable stock management is particularly critical in the food and beverage industry, where expiration dates can arrive swiftly and restocking may not always keep up with sudden demand changes. By understanding busy times, days, and hours, businesses can better manage their perishable stock and ensure they have sufficient supplies to meet customer needs.

Perishables warehouses are growing taller to accommodate automation

Perishable items include foods like dairy and produce, organic decorations like cut flowers or Christmas trees, and more. Perishable inventory management is paramount for business success, especially in categories like food and beverage where expirations can happen quickly and restocking doesn’t happen fast enough to meet sometimes sudden demand fluctuations.

Warehouses are getting bigger and taller to accommodate more inventory. Perishable warehouses are no exception. The rise of e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic, pressures in the labor market, and advancements in technology have been the greatest catalysts for the warehousing evolution. To optimize warehouse space, companies are turning to automation, robotics, and conveyance systems to create a more efficient process for moving inventory.

To accommodate automation, perishable warehouses are growing taller with higher ceilings to accommodate mezzanine levels and more shelves in the building. In addition, thicker and flatter floor slabs are required to support heavy machinery and the increasing presence of robots. Power infrastructure will also need to be upgraded to accommodate electric trucks, bots, charging stations, and other devices.

Implementing automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) such as vertical lift modules or horizontal carousels can help perishable warehouses optimize their space and manage environmental factors such as temperature and humidity to prevent food spoilage. In addition, inventory management software can provide accurate data on inventory levels, item movement, and records to ensure quality control and forecast demands and inventory levels.

Perishables are a growing business for carriers and airports

Perishable goods are items with a short shelf life that can quickly spoil if not shipped properly. Examples include food items like dairy, produce, and floral bouquets, as well as organic decorations like cut flowers or Christmas trees. Even items that don't physically perish can be considered perishable if they lose value over time, such as newspapers, hotel rooms, or airline tickets. Effective perishable inventory management is critical for business success, especially in industries like food and beverage, where expiration dates and demand fluctuations can greatly impact operations.

The perishables business is a growing sector for carriers and airports, with air freight playing a crucial role in the timely and reliable transportation of these goods. Air freight offers several advantages over other shipping methods, such as sea or road freight, due to its speed, reliability, and ability to carry specialized containers to maintain freshness. Aircraft are less likely to be affected by external factors like weather or traffic, and they have fewer stops, reducing the chances of mishandling goods.

Airports like DFW in Texas, JFK in New York, LAX in Los Angeles, and MIA in Miami are investing in upgraded warehouses and facilities to handle perishable cargo. These improvements include expanded warehouse capacity, additional perishable cargo coolers, and enhanced cold storage space. For instance, JFK Airport's cargo facility handled significant volumes of imported and exported fruits, vegetables, and nuts in 2009, and Miami International Airport (MIA) controls a large portion of perishable air cargo between North America and Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

To support the increasing demand for perishable cargo, airports are constructing new warehouses and facilities. For example, DFW Airport in Texas, which already handles 66% of the state's air cargo, is building a new cold chain facility. MIA is also constructing an 895,000-square-foot multipurpose air cargo facility to accommodate more wide-body freighters. These investments in infrastructure reflect the growing importance of the perishables business for carriers and airports.

Perishable items should be packed to endure 72 hours of transit time

Perishable items are often susceptible to damage during transit. This can be due to a variety of factors, including condensation, lack of temperature control, humidity, extreme temperatures, and delays in transit. To ensure perishable items remain intact during 72 hours of transit time, proper packaging and preparation are crucial. Here are some detailed instructions to achieve this:

Firstly, it is essential to understand the nature of the perishable items being shipped. Perishable items encompass a wide range of goods, including food items, organic decorations, and even items that lose value over time, such as newspapers. Among food items, seafood, meat, dairy, fruits, flowers, and berries are considered highly perishable. Knowing the characteristics of the items helps in determining the appropriate packaging and preservation methods.

Secondly, planning and preparation are vital. Registering foreign and domestic food facilities and providing prior notice of shipments is necessary for compliance with governmental regulations, which may minimize potential delays. Additionally, it is recommended to ship perishable items at the start of the week to avoid spoilage due to weekend delays.

Thirdly, the packaging itself is critical to preserving perishable items. The use of airtight containers is highly recommended to prevent spoilage and maintain freshness. Vacuum packaging is an excellent option for moist food items, as it helps to decrease moisture content and extend shelf life. For chilled items, watertight containers with liners are ideal to prevent leakage. Absorbent materials, such as sheeting or paper, can be placed inside the containers to absorb any condensation or accidental leaks.

Moreover, the use of ice packs or gel ice packs is essential to maintaining low temperatures during transit. These cooling agents can keep perishable items fresh for up to 72 hours. For certain items, such as pharmaceutical products, dry ice may be required, but its use is often restricted due to safety concerns.

Lastly, choosing a reputable shipping company with robust packaging and shipping technology is crucial. Opt for companies that offer refrigeration services during transit, as this will significantly extend the freshness of perishable items. Additionally, consider shipping aggregators that maintain high safety standards and have experience handling perishable goods.

By following these comprehensive guidelines, perishable items can be packed and shipped with confidence, ensuring they endure 72 hours of transit time while maintaining their quality and integrity.

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