One year after the successful go live of its upgraded control systems at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Air Canada Cargo is marking a key milestone in its terminal modernization program. Since the transition to Cargo Professional, Lödige Industries’ air cargo management software, the new control environment has provided a stable digital foundation for more efficient cargo handling and the next stages of automation at the terminal.
On 30 September 2025, the terminal’s legacy control system was switched over to Lödige Industries technology at midnight. Just one hour later, operations resumed using Cargo Professional, with 24/7 maintenance services and remote monitoring provided through the Lödige Industries Customer Care Center (CCC). The upgrade was delivered through close collaboration across the Lödige Industries organization. Engineering, software, production, and on-site teams worked in coordination to manage the transition, provide rapid technical support, and ensure full system stability throughout the go-live and subsequent operation.
The project included both the low-level control (PLC) layer and the high-level ULD management system. By bringing system processes together on a single data platform, Cargo Professional reduces manual input, helps prevent errors and provides operators with greater transparency across terminal operations. This supports efficient workflows while creating the flexibility required for future expansion and automation.
The scale of operations since go live underlines the importance of a stable and reliable control environment. In the first ten full months following the transition, the system supported the handling of more than a quarter of a million tonnes of cargo. One year after commissioning, the new control environment has established itself as a reliable foundation for day-to-day cargo operations at one of Canada's most important air cargo hubs.
“The first year of live operation demonstrates what is possible when software, controls, engineering, and service are considered as one integrated system. Delivering the transition without disrupting ongoing cargo operations was an important milestone. A year of reliable operation at this scale confirms the strength of the digital foundation we have created together and provides a solid basis for the next stages of modernization,” says Jonathan Hardy, Managing Director at Lödige Industries North America.
With the upgraded control environment firmly established, Air Canada Cargo is now moving into the next phase of its terminal modernization. Planned enhancements include a new Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV) and Mobile Transfer Device (MTD), while key areas of the terminal are being prepared for a future Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). Together, these developments will further improve ULD handling, material flow and operational flexibility.
