8 US airports undergoing major cargo facility upgrades in 2021

Despite industrywide disruptions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the air cargo community has remained focused on the future, continuing to develop cargo facilities that are crucial for supporting the world’s strained supply chains and growth expectations. In this roundup, Air Cargo World lists eight airports seeing significant cargo facility development in 2021 and beyond. 1. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) In May, PHL acquired 136 acres slated for cargo expansio n. The new facility will constitute one of the first air cargo community systems (CCS) in the U.S., with the goal of transforming the airport into an international and domestic cargo gateway. Currently, PHL captures just 9% of a yearly $54 billion air cargo market within the airport’s catchment area, according to Stephanie Wear, director of air service development and cargo services at PHL. The new space aims to attract some of the cargo currently moving through New York, Wear said. Currently, PHL has about 600,000 square feet of cargo space, with six cargo facilities and a cold storage space operated by American Airlines. The new CCS facility will nearly triple cargo building square footage at the airport to 1.4 million square feet. The specifics of how the 136 acres of cargo space will be used remain unclear for the time being. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in the next three to four years. 2. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) [caption id="attachment_96571" align="alignleft" width="300"] An Amazon Prime Air 737-800 unloads cargo at PIT. Image courtesy of Pittsburgh International Airport.[/caption] Also in May, PIT announced plans to expand its cargo operations with a 75,000 square foot cargo processing facility . The facility is intended to simultaneously meet current cargo demand and account for future increases in demand. At present, PIT’s cargo market consists mainly of consumer goods and life science exports. With the new facility, the airport hopes to begin capitalizing on pharma and perishable shipments as well. Construction will begin on the project later this year. 3. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) In order to meet increased cargo demand, AUS is adding a new cargo facility, creating new storage capacity and reconstructing roadways . The new cargo facility will measure 90,000 square feet and is set to open in January 2023. Austin, though not a port city, is a significant gateway for semiconductor chips, a low-weight, high-value shipment that would benefit from additional capacity at the airport. DHL, UPS, FedEx, Amazon Air and Atlas currently operate out of AUS. 4. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) [caption id="attachment_95106" align="alignright" width="300"] Aeroterm's multitenant facility at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Photo courtesy of Aeroterm.[/caption] In April, Aeroterm, a developer of on-airport cargo facilities, completed a new 50,400 square foot facility at CVG . The multitenant facility will expand by a further 120,000 spare feet in future phases, according to Aeroterm. CVG is the U.S. hub for both DHL and Amazon Air, whose facility opened earlier this month . DHL is considering expanding its 50-acre facility, as well. An additional off-airport, 237-acre site is currently being developed primarily for distribution facilities, according to Aeroterm. CVG ranks at No. 26 on the top 50 cargo airports worldwide. 5. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) The first new cargo handling facility to begin operations at ATL in more than three decades, a new 100,000 square foot building, opened at ATL in May . Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) secured a 20-year lease for the facility, known as Cargo Building C. The facility features 11 dock doors, drive-up ramp access, and equipment such as forklifts and scales able to handle shipments up to 30,000 pounds. The building also boasts cool-chain management equipment, such as charging points for active temperature-controlled containers. ATL ranked No. 45 out of the top 50 cargo airports worldwide based on 2019 throughput. 6. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) [caption id="attachment_96570" align="alignright" width="300"] FedEx's cargo facility at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Image courtesy of Chicago O'Hare International Airport.[/caption] Under construction since 2013, ORD’s Northeast Cargo Complex Phases I and II wrapped up in 2016, with Phase III set to begin operation next year, according to Aeroterm. Phases I and II of the 65-acre project added 800,000 square feet of cargo processing space, in addition to 11 dedicated 747-8 parking spaces. Phase III will measure 448,000 square feet, according to a release from the city of Chicago. Aeroterm, which is responsible for the site’s development, has not specified how many square feet will be dedicated for cargo. ORD ranks at No. 18 of the top 50 cargo airports worldwide. 7. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) [caption id="attachment_96074" align="alignleft" width="300"] JFK cargo rendering of Aeroterm project, photo courtesy of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey[/caption] In September, Aeroterm will break ground on a 350,000 square foot facility at JFK . The facility will be home to about two thousand square feet of dedicated pharma and cool-chain space. The project itself is just one phase in the airport’s plan to develop Cargo Area D, and is the first facility to be built on JFK grounds in two decades. The 26-acre project will be completed in 2023. WFS will lease all 300,000 square feet of warehousing space, while the remaining 50,000 will serve as dedicated office space. JFK ranks No. 23 in the top 50 cargo airports worldwide. 8. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) Aeroterm, in conjunction with MHT, in February released plans to develop a multitenant cargo facility on the grounds of the New Hampshire airport. The facility will come equipped with a 100,000 square foot building and three widebody parking positions, according to MHT. Four million additional square feet of distribution space are planned within a 20-mile radius of the airport. New Hampshire is situated within Foreign Trade Zone 81, enabling duty-free imports for companies located at MHT.

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