Swissport opens first perishable handling centre at Liège Airport to boost cool chain logistics

Swissport has launched a dedicated perishable handling centre at Liège Airport, the airport’s first such facility, to enhance cold chain logistics for temperature-sensitive cargo like cut flowers.

Fully operational since 1 August 2025, the airside facility maintains temperatures between 2°C and 8°C, accommodates up to 40 ULDs (a full freighter load), and enables direct aircraft-to-cold-storage transfer for faster, more secure handling.

The new centre supports Swissport’s flower corridor between Nairobi and Amsterdam and reinforces Liège’s position as a key European logistics hub, especially for perishables and e-commerce. It complements Swissport’s third Liège cargo terminal, opened in April 2024, expanding its total footprint to 27,000 sqm.

Swissport is now among the few global handlers offering temperature-controlled infrastructure at both origin and destination, ensuring end-to-end cool chain protection. In 2024, Swissport handled 400,000 tonnes of cargo and 3,850 freighter flights at Liège, underlining the airport’s growing strategic importance.