Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Automates Paris-CDG Perishables Centre with Lödige Industries
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is installing an automated storage system at its Paris-CDG Perishables Centre, due to go live in September 2027.
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has announced plans to expand and automate its Perishables Centre at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), installing a new elevating transfer vehicle (ETV) system supplied by Lödige Industries. The upgrade is scheduled to go live at the end of September 2027.
What Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Is Building at CDG
According to Aviation Business News, the project centres on a 10-ft wide edge ETV serving a total of 58 storage decks. Of those, 17 are located within temperature-controlled areas, making the system particularly suited to handling shipments that must stay within strict thermal limits.
The ETV automates the multilevel storage and retrieval of unit load devices (ULDs) and pallets. By removing the need for manual handling at each stage, the system is designed to streamline internal cargo flows and make more efficient use of the building's available volume.
Why Automation Matters for Cold-Chain Logistics
Temperature-sensitive cargo, including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and cut flowers, requires consistent handling conditions throughout its time on the ground. Any delay or disruption in a facility's internal flow can compromise the integrity of the shipment.
Björn Ussat, director airport logistic solutions at Lödige Industries, said: "Cold-chain logistics place particularly high demands on reliability, efficient use of space and consistent handling processes." He added that the project "demonstrates how automation can help cargo operators optimise storage capacity and internal material flows while supporting the stringent handling requirements of temperature-sensitive shipments."
Ussat also described the solution as "scalable," noting that it provides "a solid basis for future expansion of automated storage processes at Paris-Charles de Gaulle."
What the Upgrade Means for Capacity
Aviation Business News reports that the investment will increase the facility's overall capacity and improve cargo handling flows. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo stated the new system will enable it to handle growing volumes more efficiently at CDG.
The carrier is the dedicated air cargo arm of the Air France KLM Martinair Group. Paris-CDG is one of Europe's principal cargo hubs, and the Perishables Centre handles a significant share of the temperature-sensitive freight moving through the airport.
Lödige Industries' Role
Lödige Industries is supplying the ETV as the core of the automated storage and retrieval solution. The system is built to maximise use of the available building volume rather than requiring new construction, making it an efficient route to additional capacity within an existing footprint.
The installation covers both standard storage areas and the dedicated cool zones where the 17 temperature-controlled decks are positioned. Ussat said Lödige is "delighted to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo with an efficient and scalable solution."
You can explore Air France KLM's wider network and operations using our Airline Search tool.
Timeline and Next Steps
The system is scheduled to become operational at the end of September 2027, according to Aviation Business News. No further milestones ahead of that date have been announced by either Air France KLM Martinair Cargo or Lödige Industries.
The Air France KLM Group has been active on several fronts recently. We previously covered the group's passenger network in our look at which airlines are flying national teams to the FIFA World Cup.
The Bottom Line
The investment at Paris-CDG reflects a broader push by major cargo carriers to automate ground infrastructure and protect the integrity of cold-chain freight. For Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, the ETV installation adds meaningful capacity within an existing building while reducing reliance on manual handling at every stage of the storage and retrieval process.
With the system not due online until late 2027, operators and customers will be watching to see whether the timeline holds and how quickly the facility reaches its expanded throughput potential.
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