Huntsville ready for Panalpina’s 747-8Fs

Huntsville International Airport (HSV) has reopened its east runway following completion of a nine-month, $16.6m upgrade to handle freight forwarder Panalpina’s dedicated 747-8 freighter operation.
Both runways at the US airport are now capable of handling Group VI aircraft such as the 747-8. It follows a similar programme to upgrade the west runway, completed in July 2013.
Huntsville International is now the 14^th-busiest international airports for cargo in the US. Panalpina favours less congested airports for its freighter operations to speed turnaround and minimise the risk of the delays.
Another benefit of the runway upgrade programme is that it reduces distance and time to the airside freight facility, said global head of Panalpina’s own controlled air freight network, Matthew Frey.
Panalpina operates a network of leased or chartered freighter aircraft in Europe, Asia and the Americas for goods that require special handling, transportation and storage and to improve control from door-to-door.
The own controlled network accounts for up to 15% of Panalpina’s annual air freight, the first of two 747-8Fs being introduced into the operation in May 2012. It also operates B747-400Fs. 
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