Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina, US, has opened a new air cargo facility to better handle the growing volume of domestic and international freight.
Established with an investment of $33m, the new facility will enable the Upstate and GSP to meet the freight service demands of south-eastern US.
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport president and CEO Dave Edwards said: “The opening of our new air cargo facility will begin a special new chapter for GSP. GSP’s ability to be a hub for cargo has attracted many companies to the Upstate since the 1960s. This new facility allows GSP to take the region’s logistics infrastructure to new heights.”
The new cargo facility spans more than 110,000ft² and its 17-acre apron will enable the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to allow up to three Boeing 747-800 freighters to operate simultaneously. The facility is intended to increase the airport’s handling capacity threefold.
German freight forwarder Senator International has agreed to lease half of the facility for its Senator Atlantic Bridge (SAB) flights from GSP to Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN).
Senator International chairman and CEO Tim Kirschbaum said: “Senator International is very proud to celebrate this new milestone and together with the South Carolina business community, the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District, all our valued clients and business partners, we will continue to grow the air cargo operation here at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.”
Senator International will provide an overhead crane with a 20t lift capability, as well as a Cyro Farm to be used to keep specialised healthcare equipment at cool temperatures.
According to Senator, the new design and setup of the facility will augment its processes while providing faster lead times to clients.
The airport, which managed 119 million pounds of cargo last year, is a hub for automotive parts, vehicles and medical equipment.
In 2017, GSP introduced Cerulean Aviation and took the responsibility of all fixed-base operator services at the airport.
GSP’s 2018 economic impact study revealed that the airport has a $2.9bn impact on the Upstate economy while cargo operations at the airport contribute $478m to the region’s economy.
