What makes an airport “great” for cargo?
     I guess it depends on who you are and where you are in the logistics chain because the playing field changes considerably if the focus is transfer activity versus origin and destination, or belly cargo versus freighter.
     It also changes if the traffic is domestic or international. But for argument’s sake, let’s take a classic gateway with a balanced mix of all of the above.
     Here are my top ten criteria for a world-class cargo operation. (Top ten lists are interesting because they are always wide open for debate).

1. A balanced flow of cargo that fills bellies and provides strong backhaul opportunities.
2. A realistic airport cost structure that includes fuel flowage fees, landing (or take-off) fees, and facility and ground leasing costs.
3. A choice of experienced cargo handlers.
4. Modern facilities sized and configured to facilitate and expedite handling, sortation, transfer, and clearance.
5. Adjacent aircraft apron for freighter parking. The apron should have appropriate wing tip spacing and a set back from the building that will enable the easy and safe movement of equipment.
6. A 150’ deep truck apron that will allow for maneuvering and easy parking. An adjunct to this would be additional space for truck queuing.
7. A Customs operation with available staff that is equipped for electronic clearance on a 24-hour-a-day basis.
8. The absence of a curfew and any other restrictive operating conditions.
9. A quality roadway system that provides easy access and egress to the facilities and from the airport to the regional highways.
10. An airport management philosophy that integrates regional economic development with the air cargo community in a working partnership.   

    There are other factors that are important to success such as a regional labor force and of course a strong business infrastructure of brokers, forwarders, truckers, and a range of other key partners.
     And while this addresses a “gateway” there are hundreds of airports with very different operating parameters and business objectives.
     The common thread is to look at what the specific market needs and understand what is necessary to deliver it.
     It might be interesting to hear from readers if they have other criteria or to establish a separate “top ten” from a forwarder, carrier, and airport perspective. Identifying and prioritizing the overlaps could prove helpful. 
Dan Muscatello

Mr. Muscatello is Landrum & Brown’s Managing Director of Cargo and Logistics. He is a forward-thinking airport and air cargo executive with more than 30 years of experience, in both the public and private sectors. He has been a development strategist for both the business and physical facility planning of air cargo complexes, and the integration of ancillary and supporting logistics services that make them operationally and financially feasible. Mr. Muscatello comments on various topics of unique common interest are a regular feature of FlyingTypers.