Plans for EWR cargo growth
4 AIRPORT VOICE, MAY 2021
Port RFP for ops of buildings
The Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey is building on a strong
record of cargo operations across the
agency with a major new initiative to
expand its facilities at Newark Liberty
International Airport, responding
to a sharp rise in demand for additional
cargo space and services.
The agency has issued a request
for proposals (RFP) to pre-qualified
firms to lease, operate and maintain
two of the airport’s major cargo buildings
through renovations that will
dramatically enhance Newark Liberty’s
air cargo operations. The airport
is already a major international shipping
hub for leading carriers such as
FedEx and UPS. The move is part of
the Port Authority’s broader effort to
transform its operations to compete
in a dynamic, growing air cargo market.
Nationally, the air cargo business
has rebounded from the impact of
COVID-19 and is surging ahead, following
an initial drop in early 2020.
Volumes reached record levels in
January 2021, up 1.1 percent over record
setting January 2019 numbers,
according to the International Air
Transport Association. At Newark
Liberty, volumes in December 2020
showed a restoration of all cargo business
initially lost during the pandemic.
By comparison, commercial
passenger volumes continue to fall
well below pre-pandemic levels at all
Port Authority airports.
“With the presence of robust distribution
channels in the region, the
Port Authority has a strategic objective
to position its air cargo facilities
at Newark Liberty to meet growing
demand,” said Port Authority Chairman
Kevin O’Toole. “COVID-19 has
shifted the way products are moved
from one market to the next, and our
airports are uniquely suited to assist
cargo operators.”
“These new cargo projects provide
an exciting opportunity at Newark
Liberty to expand cargo capacity and
customize the delivery of world-class
warehousing and services to help
shape the future of air cargo services
at the airport,” said Port Authority
Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“This newly expanded capacity will
lead to increased economic activity
and create more jobs to help drive the
region’s economic recovery.”
The local air cargo market remains
a critical link in the global
supply chain and a key driver of New
York-New Jersey economic growth.
Cargo supports 22,000 jobs, $4 billion
in sales and $1.5 billion in overall
wages throughout the Newark region.
As customers and vendors increasingly
turn to online outlets for commerce
and goods, Newark has become
the regional hub for small packages.
In addition, nearly 40 percent of
cargo currently handled at Newark
Liberty is carried in both domestic
and international passenger flights.
These modernized facilities together
with other existing multi-tenant
cargo facilities will offer additional
facility choice and cargo connectivity
to passenger terminals.
Newark Liberty is in the midst
of an airport-wide redevelopment, of
which the airport’s cargo business in
an essential ingredient. A new, stateof
the-art Terminal A is being completed
on the south end of the airport.
The Port Authority is moving closer
to replacing the outmoded AirTrain
Newark with the release of an RFP
last week to four pre-selected design
and construction teams.
JFK area
logistics growth
with Million sq. ft
expansion
1 million sq. ft of cargo, warehouse & logistics space
to be added servicing JFK Airport. 3 big projects: Terminal
Logistics Center will deliver 300,000 square feet
of to the JFK Airport market at 130-24 South Conduit
Ave; 346,000 sq ft. Aeroterm with prime tenant WFS
on JFK campus and JFK Logistics Center , Wildflower
with prime tenant Amazon, 422,000 sq. ft., $76 million
facility on Rockaway Boulevard south of JFK. In addition,
the Port has issued a major RFP for development
of the North Cargo area of JFK. This will piggy-back
on the passenger side of the JFK Airport planned redevelopment.
(L-R) Aeroterm/WFS at JFK Airport, Terminal Logistics Conduit Ave, JFK Terninal Logistics, Rockaway Boulevard.