LAX to begin Cargo Modernization Program

Los Angeles World Airports is set to construct and implement its new Cargo Modernization Program at Los Angeles International Airport. [caption id="attachment_57137567" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo/Realterm)[/caption] The airport (LAX) was the fifth-busiest cargo airport in the United States in 2022, handling more than 2.5 million tonnes of cargo, according to the airport. LAX has three cargo areas with 27 buildings, covering about 2.6 million square feet, and about 3.5 million square feet of aircraft ramp area. Many of LAX’s cargo facilities are 20 to 80 years old and are no longer compatible with industry standards. A report released by Airports Council International -North America (ACI-NA) this year, estimated 50% growth in air cargo by 2042. The report projected that LAX will handle about 4.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2042. The ACI report and a white paper released by the Airport Congestion Committee (ACC), a joint venture between the Airforwarders Association (AfA) and National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America , said U.S. airports desperately need to improve infrastructure for cargo operations. Program still in early stages The airport has selected LAX Community Partners — a partnership between Realterm and JLC Infrastructure , which itself is a joint venture between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital — to complete the modernization program. Neither Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) nor Realterm provided Air Cargo Next with a timeline for the project’s completion or details of the construction, stating that more information would be made available once the predevelopment phase is complete. They did not indicate when that would be and declined to answer questions about costs. “This project will provide more technically advanced and efficient cargo facilities and capabilities that will allow LAX to better power the economic vitality for the city of Los Angeles and greater Southern California region,” LAWA Chief Executive Justin Erbacci told Air Cargo Next . [caption id="attachment_57137566" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Existing LAX cargo facilities are surrounded by a blue dotted line. (Photo/LAWA)[/caption] AfA Executive Director Brandon Fried is hopeful that this project will address some of the airport’s cargo operations challenges. “The plan, to our knowledge, will provide improved airside access and aircraft parking, which, while not impacting forwarders directly, will enable airlines and handlers to get the cargo to and from the facility with increased efficiency and facilitate clearance and pickup for our members and truckers,” Fried told Air Cargo Next . “The landside infrastructure — planned to include roadway geometry, facility access and parking for vehicles and trucks , right-sized truck aprons, truck queuing and a marshaling yard — will be important additions. “The facility will be fully automated, greatly expediting processing to include throughput and sorting, expediting pickup and drop-off, and saving stakeholders time and money,” Fried continued. “An increased number of truck bays and ... integrated electronic communications will position the airport as one of North America’s premier international cargo facilities.” Struggle to stay modern The ACI and ACC reports highlight the areas that experts believe airports need to modernize. For instance, cargo throughput takes too long at airports, according to experts, due in large part to outdated infrastructure in relation to trucking needs and volume. Roadways and truck aprons at many older airports, such as LAX, don’t accommodate modern, larger tractor-trailers well. Undersized truck aprons, lack of queuing availability, constrained maneuvering space and limited truck bays contribute to landside congestion. Without sufficient marshaling yards, trucks idle in long lines at the airport and on access roads, which increases congestion, cost and carbon emissions. “Like many international airports, LAX has made several improvements to aid the cargo community,” Fried said. “Still, like most older airports, the landside infrastructure designed for 40-foot trucks is challenging for today’s 53-foot tractor-trailers. The situation becomes more complicated when insufficient truck bays cannot handle specific peaks. A more sophisticated communications system that would include customs would greatly assist.” Also, the reports said that the projected growth in cargo volumes means on-site facilities need to have the space and technology to accommodate those volumes. The reports noted that airports and ground handlers need to invest in automation, digitalization and integrated systems. “For airports who have physical infrastructure restrictions, that’s where digital infrastructure is going to have to take a part,” Donna Mullins , vice president of Kale Logistics Solutions and chair of the ACC, previously told Air Cargo Next . Fried is optimistic that LAX’s Cargo Modernization Program will address these difficulties. “It will take some time, but this will have a major impact on LAX’s ability to handle the tonnage forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration over the next 20 years,” he said. “The LAX Community Partners initiative will not only expedite cargo but also dramatically increase capacity, reduce operating costs, introduce a wide range of sustainability concepts, reduce trucking costs and related carbon emissions, all while ensuring a community-friendly environment. “For the forwarders, the development means better access, reduced operating costs that can be passed on through the logistics chain, and much quicker and more efficient use of staff and equipment.” Join Air Cargo Next for the second annual Air Cargo Tech Summit on Monday, Sept. 18, and Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place in Belgium. For more information on the summit and to register, click here .

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