New cargo facility to be built at Pittsburgh International
02 / 03 / 2022
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Developer Aeroterm will build a new cargo facility at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) as it looks to capitalise on recent volume growth.
The Allegheny County Airport Authority Board has approved an agreement with Aeroterm to lease up to 8.77 acres of land for 30 years to build the new facility.
The facility will be the largest cargo building in the airport’s history, measuring 140,000 sq ft.
“This project is a much-needed addition to our cargo operations, as we continue to partner with the industry to create new solutions to serve their customers in a trying supply chain environment,” said Bryan Dietz, PIT’s senior vice president, air service & commercial development.
“We’re looking forward to this partnership with Aeroterm, which will further our mission as an economic driver for Western Pennsylvania while being able to expand the ease and efficiency our airport is becoming known for in the air cargo industry.”
Aeroterm will pay $244,000 in rent in the first year of the deal, in addition to 5% of annual revenue. The lease has two 10-year renewal options.
The new building does not affect the airport’s plan to build what is known as Cargo 4, a 77,000 sq ft cargo-processing facility and adjacent parking lot that has received nearly $20m in federal and state grants and is expected to be operational by 2024.
Cargo volume was up nearly 30% in 2021 and totalled nearly 250m pounds, making it the busiest cargo year at PIT since 2004, when it was still a hub for US Airways.
PIT’s cargo operations include domestic carriers such as FedEx and UPS as well as international firms such as Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Last spring, PIT became part of the Amazon Air network, and the airline quickly added a second daily flight from the e-commerce giant.
