The Air Forwarders’ Association, the lobbying group for airfreight brokers, has called for a dedicated investment fund to upgrade cargo facilities at U.S. airports.

Investment in mechanization and automation was placed on hold during the collapse of airfreight demand during the COVID period.  A spokesperson for the Association noted, “Targeted federal dollars for air cargo would be helpful because cargo is an afterthought in most infrastructure conversations as compared with passenger operations.”  He added, “The cargo industry needs to break ground and advance as many cargo-oriented projects as quickly as possible while cargo still has this halo around it from the pandemic.” It is noted that the breeding and hatchery sectors of the poultry industry are dependent on air-freight to distribute eggs and chicks.

It is understood that cargo operations will be upgraded at major airports, including LAX, ATL, PHL, JFK together with the commercially operated freight handling centers at hub airports.  In addition to warehousing and mechanical conveying equipment, freight handlers require infrastructure including road access, parking and ramps.  Cargo-handling installations at major airports range in cost from $300 to $500 million.