Airports, economic development, plus land availability, drive growth
AIR cargo consultant Michael Webber says airports and economic development can be the catalysts for growth, but it depends usually on land availability adding that "it's the classic case of the chicken or the egg," explaining that both airports and their surrounding areas can drive growth depending on the environment.
Mr Webber cited the case of Memphis "where the airport has been a catalyst for development that otherwise wouldn't have occurred there. In other markets such as in Chicago and New York, the big reason the airports grew is that the economy grew."
Mr Webber said freight integrators at hubs such as Chicago Rockford International Airport and LA/Ontario International Airport in Los Angeles have provided economies of scale by bringing all the working parts with them, creating growth out of thin air, reported Atlanta area Air Cargo World.
"Some airports have the benefit of ample land such as Pittsburgh or Kansas City, and they are able to take on development that wouldn't fit the purpose at a JFK or a Miami, where local economic development has been brought up right to the fences."
Mr Webber says many airports are populated with a lot of legacy cargo facilities that are not well suited to next-generation users. He says the number of surplus cargo facilities is at an all-time high.
Calgary is one region where there is clear evidence that airport expansion has spurred surrounding growth, including several new cargo-related facilities. Airport Cargo and logistics manager Keith Stanley said cargo facility expansions include the recent opening of an additional cargo apron for larger code D and code E aircraft, which gives easy access to runways.
"We're also working with our courier partners, FedEx, UPS and Purloator, and we finished an apron expansion that extends a new vehicle service road," he said.
Miami International Airport is one of those airports with little room for adjacent growth, but one major project is being developed. Plans are moving forwards for the US$39.9 million 400-acre multi-modal South Florida Logistics Centre project, being developed adjacent to Miami International Airport.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport has historically been a big driver of growth in the region. Many companies, especially foreign manufacturers, have been attracted to the area because of the airport.
"They want to be within a certain drive time of Charlotte Douglas," said local commercial real estate agent Lane Holbert. "Most are looking at multiple cities, and because of Charlotte's number of direct flights within the US and to a number of foreign cities, it's been the reason we have won certain projects."
