AIRPORT VOICE, OCTOBER 2021 19
going on. It’s a lot”
Due to unprecedented stakeholder
concerns, Lawrence was
part of the conversations and
important points were implemented
by Port to work with the
airlines.
Another example, although
not cargo, is terminal retail
concessions. He related that
concessions relief across the
agency and airports is something
that Port has been working
on as a result of strong calls
for action from economically hit
terminal management and business.
(Due to President Biden’s
significant reopening of international
travel into the U.S. this
should help these ailing companies).
JFK International
Airport (JFK)
JFK is the largest cargo airport
within the Port system with
more that 1.7 million sq. ft. in
15buidings. However this is not
sufficient for the recent boom in
current air cargo shipments and
certainly not enough for projected
growth in the decade to
come as indicated to the Port
by outside transportation consultants.
When asked about the concerns
from cargo handlers that
there is no place to put the additional
cargo at the moment,
Lawrence said,
“You don’t know the extent
of how I get pulled into these
conversations.
We’ve been accommodating
these requests with our real
estate department and walkthroughs
of building like 86, 87
at JFK.
JFK began a large overall
redevelopment based on Governor
Cuomo’s Vision plan unveiled
in 2016. The passenger
terminal complex and related
infrastructure were the first
phases of this announced. The
actual redevelopment has begun
on a limited basis as the
Covid Pandemic rattled investor
confidence in the marketplace.
However, as traffic has
improved and the investing climate
has calmed down, the
American Airline, JFKIAT and
Terminal 6 pieces are in place
and being worked on. The Terminal
One piece is expected to
be announced by year’s end,
completing most of the JFK redevelopment
aside from the
Central Transportation Center,
which is still in an RFQ phase.
Now, according to Lawrence,
it is time to turn to the air
cargo side of the airport.
One of the cargo plans has
been built as The Ark which is
an animal cargo building.
“I approved and ready to
soon be constructed is the
Aeroterm building on the former
footprint of buildings 260 and
261. This $145 million project to
develop a 350,000 square-foot
facility is expected to be completed
by year-end 2023 as demolition
is currently under way.
“A previously announced
cargo facility by Air Cargo LLC
has been put on hold as the
Port looks more at a total air
cargo redevelopment.
To address this larger issue
of cargo needed space the Port
had sent out an RFQ in November
2020, RFQ – 93611, for redevelopment
of cargo facilities
at JFK. According to Lawrence
this was the outcome of a more
strategic look at the total cargo
needs.
Lawrence added. “We follow
studies, thinking about consolidating
cargo into Area D in
North. For example what kind
of buildings should we think
about? What type of cargo operators?
Should it be a mix of
developers, multi-tenant or single
entity should we be thinking
bout? . We have rationalize all
this to make sense. It’s a complicated
business.”
What’s included is that but
strategy in line. Every just come
what is appropriate mix. In part
leave to private sector for appropriate
mix then they go and
cut their own deals. So part is
to be informed what is good for
airport and cargo.”
In anticipation of cargo
growth and larger cargo aircraft,
some of the cargo area
taxiways were widened not too
long ago. When asked the status
of the November RFP, he
said, “We are proceeding to
make sure it is appropriate and
valid and still pursuing proposals
of that but taking a broader
look. I have asked for a complete
overlook at cargo.” According
to Port documentation
dozens of companies has expressed
interest in this overarching,
grand design.
Newark
International
Airport (EWR)
Lawrence acknowledged
that none of the other airports
are as compact as Newark
space-wise. To address this,
different proposals are being
considered. As Passenger Terminal
A is nearing completion,
air cargo at Newark is beginning
to change. Recently Amazon
was awarded redevelopment
of Buildings 339/340 after
a full procurement process. The
Amazon award was not met with
great review by some cargo operators
or residents in the area
believing that a more traditional
cargo company would be better
suited and residents feel
that some of their workers may
lose their livelihood when airline
and related companies have no
where to go. Increased noise
and health concerns were also
voiced by nearby residents.
Due to the end of the current
lease, all tenants and operations
are required to move
out by the buildings lease end
in November. It was pointed
out that some may relocate to
Building 157, or reach some
kind of agreement with Amazon,
or move out as AGI is doing
having found space off-airport
which Lawrence referred
to as a transition to a hybrid of
on and off airport development
such as space on site for handling
cargo and off-site for additional
resources.
However, relating to the current
tenants, Lawrence pointed
out that these operators were
aware of the potential change
in the buildings status in the
procurement process and may
not have planned accordingly.
These buildings are not 100%
moving cargo but currently accommodate
24% cargo tenants
with the bulk 75% of different
commodities and services.
Says Lawrence, Amazon was
being considered part of many
developers plans so, in essence,
why not go directly with
them. “This was all part of the
rightsizing. It is not pretty but it
was bound to happen down the
road if not now, based on cargo
demand.”
For future cargo growth, former
Building 151 (now an empty
lot) will soon be used as a lay
down area truck parking. It was
originally to be a kitchen for
United Airlines, and now being
considered as a development
opportunity as well as other airport
sites not disclosed.
Lawrence added that to sort
development and include the
surrounding community of Newark
and Elizabeth into the overall
airport redevelopment, an advisory
council has been created.
It will meet quarterly for local
community to have input into the
process. Similar to the current
JFK Redevelopment Council but
structured differently since the
scope of development is different
at EWR than JFK.
Stewart
International
Airport (SWF)
SWF is the smallest of the
commercial airports in the Port
system when it comes to cargo.
There is only one building for
the passenger side that is now
operated by Future Stewart
partners, a collaboration between
AvPorts and Groupe
ADP. Currently there are only
domestic flights through SWF
but to add to growth there was
a substantial Customs Border
Protection FIS facility built to
handle more cargo and upcoming
international air service
SWF is in a largely unpopulated
area with lots of trees,
land and room to grow.
Lawrence said that Port
sees a lot of interest in cargo
and air service development.
“We are not pursuing cargo as
a strategy but talking to a number
of carriers who see potential
looking at cargo and the network
of highways.”
It is said that Norse Airways
will begin to fly Dreamliners
787s, transatlantic routes
within the coming months bringing
additional belly cargo to the
airport. Formerly Norwegian
ran flights there but then went
bankrupt.
To provide opportunity for
growth there is RFQ-62910-
Request for Qualification for
The Development, Operations
and Maintenance of Cargo And
Other Aeronautical Support Facilities
At New York Stewart International
Airport.
There is a great deal of potential
for cargo at SWF as
the one of the largest discount
apparel malls in the country,
Woodbury Commons, is located
nearby away making it
a prime destination for exporting
these goods into the U.S.
SWF is also located close to a
few highway systems making
re-distribution to and from both
EWR and JFK easier and much
less congested.
He does not see change to
FSP operators since bringing
concession customer experience,
some operational and
maintenance services to the
terminal and the relationship
will continue to grow.
Overall outlook
“As you can be see we are
preparing a lot for 2022. We
are looking at cargo proposals,
general aviation proposals, and
infrastructure developments all
happening a the same time.
There is a lot going on.” It’s a
lot.” he said, “Also we are doing
bread and butter projects such
as runways with major work and
infrastructure projects. It is all
still moving, We are still committed
to cargo.
All the RFQs and RFPs are
getting it all done and it is a process
of sequencing. “
Again he responds to criticism
that “Downtown” is too
removed from the local issues,
stating that responsiveness is
important to the community.
“We are busy, but doesn’t mean
we are not continuing to get involved
or ignore bring responsive
to our stakeholders.”
“We are informed constantly
with updates and dialogues
with our eyes and ears who
are general managers, their
staff and folks locally and on
the commercial side on airport
business.”
Being a local man who grew
up in Queens, he knows there
are a lot of folks out of work,
concessions hit hard with significant
challenges in the financial
environment in the terminal.
“We understand this and
deal with the crisis at hand and
continue in reasonable way with
facilities.“
Huntley stresses the point
that the air cargo redevelopment
at all the airports is not
one building at a time as a previous
model, but instead the
current thinking is one of strategic
significance which is a
broader vision of total cargo
considerations.
“Here’s what we can do. We
can do a one by one or step
back and look at cargo more
broadly for appropriate use
and mix.” He said Port needs
to serve the interests of the airports,
not developers so he is
constantly looking at ways for
a better solution for the airports
when it comes to proposals.
He says Port understands
the urgency of where to put
cargo. He explained that Port is
trying to do a lot for stakeholder
and public,
“I would like to understand
the entities looking for space.
Port is open to dialogues with
cargo tenants who need space
on a temporary basis. They
should go to Laura Garland
and Teddy Minch with a CC to
Susan Warner Dooley to make
sure all loose ends are addressed.”