CONSTRUCTION has commenced on the first dedicated general cargo terminal at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) in Alabama, reports New York's FreightWaves.
This initiative reflects the airport's renewed focus on attracting cargo business, which includes new chartered freighter flights from Germany.
The birmingham Airport Authority recently broke ground on the $27 million facility, which will serve as the Southeast air hub for Kuehne+Nagel (K+N).
K+N, a global logistics powerhouse, launched twice-weekly flights from Stuttgart in April to meet the demand from companies in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals, including Mercedes-Benz.
Currently, K+N operates out of an existing hangar under a temporary lease agreement with another tenant at the airport.
To support K+N's operations, Atlas Air and Cargolux are operating Boeing 747 cargo jets, which return via Chicago O'Hare airport.
Alliance Ground International is providing ramp services and cargo processing.
Once the construction of the new cargo facility is completed next spring, K+N will relocate its operations to the dedicated space.
The facility will comprise 48,500 square feet of warehouse space, administrative offices, 17 dock doors for trucks and five airside bays.
With the establishment of this new cargo operation, BHM will join Huntsville airport in northern Alabama and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina as a critical southeastern gateway.
Huntsville airport has pioneered the concept of second-tier airports becoming destinations for scheduled all-cargo airlines by offering faster cargo turnarounds at a lower cost than congested metropolitan airports.
Birmingham, strategically located in the rapidly growing manufacturing belt of the southeast, 150 miles west of Atlanta.
The area is home to manufacturing plants of major companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Airbus.
The airport authority is financing the new air cargo facility, which will be leased to K+N for an initial period of six years.
Originally planned as an air logistics centre on a speculative basis, the final design was adjusted to accommodate K+N's request to establish a gateway at BHM.
In addition to K+N, BHM also facilitates shipments for FedEx Express, UPS, and their feeder airlines through a smaller facility located at the far end of the airport.
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This initiative reflects the airport's renewed focus on attracting cargo business, which includes new chartered freighter flights from Germany.
The birmingham Airport Authority recently broke ground on the $27 million facility, which will serve as the Southeast air hub for Kuehne+Nagel (K+N).
K+N, a global logistics powerhouse, launched twice-weekly flights from Stuttgart in April to meet the demand from companies in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals, including Mercedes-Benz.
Currently, K+N operates out of an existing hangar under a temporary lease agreement with another tenant at the airport.
To support K+N's operations, Atlas Air and Cargolux are operating Boeing 747 cargo jets, which return via Chicago O'Hare airport.
Alliance Ground International is providing ramp services and cargo processing.
Once the construction of the new cargo facility is completed next spring, K+N will relocate its operations to the dedicated space.
The facility will comprise 48,500 square feet of warehouse space, administrative offices, 17 dock doors for trucks and five airside bays.
With the establishment of this new cargo operation, BHM will join Huntsville airport in northern Alabama and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina as a critical southeastern gateway.
Huntsville airport has pioneered the concept of second-tier airports becoming destinations for scheduled all-cargo airlines by offering faster cargo turnarounds at a lower cost than congested metropolitan airports.
Birmingham, strategically located in the rapidly growing manufacturing belt of the southeast, 150 miles west of Atlanta.
The area is home to manufacturing plants of major companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Airbus.
The airport authority is financing the new air cargo facility, which will be leased to K+N for an initial period of six years.
Originally planned as an air logistics centre on a speculative basis, the final design was adjusted to accommodate K+N's request to establish a gateway at BHM.
In addition to K+N, BHM also facilitates shipments for FedEx Express, UPS, and their feeder airlines through a smaller facility located at the far end of the airport.
SeaNews Turkey