New Air Cargo Facility Takes Shape

Nearing capacity at its existing intermodal location, the Port of Huntsville is currently building a new 93,000-square-foot air cargo facility at the International Intermodal Center. Decatur-based Fite Building Co. Inc. was awarded the design/build contract for the project with an estimated cost of $7.5 million. Construction of the project to expand air cargo facilities at the Intermodal Center began in April with the building ready for occupants by spring 2009. The building will have office and warehouse space.

According to Mitch Bradley, Director, International Intermodal Center, "Our facility provides a one-stop-shop for receiving, transferring, storing, and distributing international and domestic cargo by air, rail, and highway. As we grow and look toward the future, we want to take a proactive approach at putting the infrastructure in place to serve potential carriers."

Currently, Panalpina occupies a 100,000-square-foot building called Air Cargo South. The global Swiss freight forwarder opened its central airfreight and distribution hub in Huntsville in 1990 to be a pivotal international gateway between the United States and Asia and Europe. In addition, another 100,000-square-foot air cargo building has several carriers and freight forwarders, including UPS Supply Chain Solutions, UPS, BAX Global, Fed Ex, and DHL.

Over the years, volume at the facility has continued to increase in substantial proportions. Huntsville International handled a record 152.4 million pounds of air cargo freight in 2006, up from just over 115 million pounds in 2005. This unprecedented growth earned the airport the title of fastest-growing cargo airport outside Asia in 2006, according to a ranking in Air Cargo World magazine. Last year proved to be more of the same as Huntsville International posted record volume again with 174.4 million pounds of air cargo in 2007.