ANC to see new digital cargo infrastructure in 2024

Anchorage, Alaska-based investment firm NorthLink Aviation and Kale Logistics Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding to build digital cargo infrastructure at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The project, expected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars, is expected to break ground this summer and be operational in 2024, Sean Dolan , chief executive of NorthLink Aviation , told Air Cargo Next. [caption id="attachment_94589" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo courtesy of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport[/caption] About 3.5 million metric tonnes of cargo moved through Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in 2022, up 14% from 2020, and the tonnage continues to grow, according to data from an Alaska state government website. “In 2022, ANC was the third-busiest cargo airport in the world,” Megan Peters , communications coordinator at ANC, told Air Cargo Next . She noted that the 3.5 million tonnes of cargo that came through ANC in 2022 “was a little down from the year before but cargo at other airports saw larger drops than ANC did. ANC is equidistant between Tokyo and New York. It is used as a refueling hub and crew change spot for cargo carriers. Dubai of the west However, NorthLink’s Dolan said ANC is seriously lacking the technology that would make e-commerce and express freight more viable. “We're building brand new infrastructure, to be able to really do three things,” he said. “One, to just provide the physical infrastructure to accommodate the planes. No. 2, we want to keep de-icing fluid out of neighboring water bodies. And then No. 3, we want to use our terminal to be able to connect e-commerce goods and express freight faster and provide more solutions in terms of how you get packages onto people's doorsteps.” The project includes a 55-year lease for a 120-acre space on ANC’s south park campus for infrastructure, including warehouse space and additional parking. The partnership will ensure technology for digital platforms specifically for e-commerce and express freight, Dolan said. “We know that Anchorage is a prime location and has the opportunity to become a Dubai/Singapore of the west,” Amar More , co-founder and CEO of Kale Logistics Solutions , told Air Cargo Next. “Today, the cargo is just transiting through this gateway and going to more congested gateway airports. But just imagine, in Anchorage where landing to parking for an aircraft is hardly around 10 minutes, it would make sense for the airlines to move cargo directly from Anchorage to the final destination, instead of going through another congested airport. It can easily save at least one day in the total end-to-end delivery time.” Building automation into infrastructure Anchorage is a critical spot for cargo — more than just a quick refueling hub, Dolan said. But the winter months are dark, making it difficult for planes to make quick turnarounds with poor visibility. The tech and infrastructure upgrades will alleviate this and save money for carriers in the process. “What we're really looking to do with our terminals is provide the infrastructure so that people can stop at the airport and have lighting,” Dolan said. “Now, one part of our technology ... is we're going to have cameras with machine learning, pointed at the planes, so that we can keep track of everything that's going on with the turn of the plane. “Machine learning cameras will provide visibility to see when cargo doors are open and when fuel trucks show up. It collects data that can be distributed globally to carriers and service providers to provide visibility and efficiency. It also will help make sure safety practices are being adhered to, Dolan added. Building updated technology into the infrastructure will increase efficiency, Dolan said. Automation will significantly improve end-to-end visibility, which is vital for a cargo hub. “What we're basically looking to do is to provide shippers with better transparency and better speed and better costs to be able to get e-commerce goods eastbound into North America and westbound back to Asia”

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