Port of Huntsville The Port of Huntsville’s new 90,000 square-foot, $7 million air cargo facility.

Construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility began in May 2008 and totaled more than $7 million. The facility, which was constructed by Decatur-based Fite Building Company, Inc., features a 5,250-square-foot cold storage area and 20-foot by 70-foot double bay doors. The new development will almost double in size the current 100,000-square-foot Air Cargo South facility where global Swiss freight forwarder, Panalpina, has resided since 1990. Another 100,000-square-foot air cargo building houses several carriers and freight forwarders, including UPS Supply Chain Solutions, UPS, WestWind Inc. and Fed Ex.

According to Rick Tucker, executive director, Port of Huntsville, “Senator Shelby has been a tremendous advocate of the Port of Huntsville for many years and has worked tirelessly to help secure funding that has enabled our operations to continue to grow and work toward our mission of providing quality multi-modal transportation services to a diverse regional customer base and stimulating the economic growth and development of the Tennessee Valley region.”

“The new facility will add significant office and warehouse space at the Intermodal Center, and the inclusion of cold storage adds a new element to our available services,” said Mitch Bradley, Director, International Intermodal Center. “Although the economy took a downturn shortly after construction began last year, we felt that it was important to put the infrastructure in place to meet the needs of future growth and expansion once the economy strengthens. We have full confidence that once the market turns around, there will be a surge in the air cargo industry, and we will be ready.”

Mark McDaniel, Chairman, Board of Directors, Port of Huntsville, credits the arrival of Panalpina in 1990 with opening a key international gateway to air freight and distribution between the United States, Europe and Mexico. “Huntsville’s inland port offers several advantages that position the new facility to attract additional carriers to the area,” said McDaniel.

“Less congestion in the air space and on the surrounding roads along with competitive real estate costs and landing fees are among the strong selling points.” McDaniel, along with other executives at the Port of Huntsville, believes the newest facility will further its objective of expanding operations to include an Asian carrier and position the Port of Huntsville as the Asian gateway to the Southeast.