UPS to add four weekly flights to San Bernardino during 2016 peak

UPS said it will add four weekly flights to San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) during its peak-season rush to accommodate a seasonal surge in package shipments, which grows each year as e-commerce changes the logistics side of Christmas shopping. The Atlanta-based integrator will operate 757 freighters from SBD to its Louisville, Kentucky, hub this December.

For SBD, the additional cargo flights are in line with the airport’s pivot investments in cargo handling facilities and equipment.  “SBD invested in the infrastructure, such as maindeck and lowerdeck loaders, to support permanent cargo carriers,” said Mark Gibbs, director of aviation at SBD. These investments allow the airport to provide turnkey cargo operations on any size of aircraft.

This is the second year in a row that UPS has added seasonal capacity to SBD, and currently no other all-cargo carriers operate scheduled flights into the airport. However, Gibbs noted that the airport had the regional interconnectivity to compete with busier airports in Southern California. That includes a new air cargo facility located adjacent to 60 acres of aircraft ramp, and access to three major interstate highways.