WFS Secures Cargo Handling License at Oslo Airport

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has secured a cargo handling license at Oslo Airport (OSL), marking the first time the Norwegian hub will operate with three active Cargo-Aircraft handlers. The agreement, announced on August 26, 2026, expands the global footprint of WFS and its parent company, SATS Group, into Norway to support growing export demands.

According to STAT Times, the state-owned airport operator Avinor awarded the license subject to specific operational conditions. The addition of a third handler is intended to increase capacity, stimulate market competition, and improve service offerings for Airlines and freight forwarders operating at Northern Europe’s largest full-freighter hub.

Expanding capacity for Norwegian exports

Oslo Airport has experienced sustained growth in air cargo demand, driven heavily by time-critical and perishable exports such as Norwegian seafood. To accommodate this volume, Avinor has sought to expand the ground handling ecosystem.

Eva Beate Lande, Head of Cargo at Avinor, stated that the airport had never previously hosted three cargo handlers simultaneously. She noted that the third operator will increase overall capacity and provide enhanced options for the cargo community.

The new WFS operation will initially launch in temporary facilities at the Airports. This interim setup serves as a transitional phase ahead of the planned “Cargo West” development project. Avinor designed the Cargo West initiative to provide long-term capacity additions and improve the resilience of the air cargo supply chain at the Gardermoen facility.

WFS and SATS global network integration

The Oslo license represents a strategic geographic expansion for WFS, which operates under the Singapore-based SATS Group. The combined WFS and SATS network currently provides cargo handling services at more than 225 stations across 27 countries.

According to the companies, trade routes serviced by the joint network cover approximately 50 percent of global air cargo volumes. The entry into the Norwegian market connects Oslo’s specialized perishable export operations directly into this broader international logistics framework.

John Batten, Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Services for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia at WFS, highlighted Norway as an important market for air cargo.

“We thank Avinor for this significant opportunity to expand the WFS and SATS network in Norway and, most importantly, to be able to support the continued cargo growth of Oslo Airport and its customers,” Batten said.

AirPro News analysis

The decision by Avinor to introduce a third cargo handler at Oslo Airport reflects the unique pressures of the Norwegian air freight market. Seafood exports require strict temperature controls and rapid turnaround times, making ground handling bottlenecks particularly costly. By bringing in a major global player like WFS, Avinor is signaling a shift toward higher-capacity, competitive handling environments typical of larger global hubs like Frankfurt Airport (FRA) or London Heathrow Airport (LHR). We expect this increased competition will likely drive Investments in specialized cold-chain infrastructure among all three operators at OSL as they vie for lucrative perishable freight contracts.

Sources: WFS