Airports

Greenville-Spartanburg breaks ground on new $30m cargo facility

US gateway Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) has broken ground on a new $30 million cargo facility as it looks to meet demand for the increase in cargo traffic is has seen over the last seven years.

The 110,000 square-foot warehouse and 13-acre cargo ramp are scheduled to open in the spring of 2019. It will be able to accommodate three Boeing 747-800 aircraft simultaneously.

GSP’s new cargo apron is partially being funded by $11 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program. The cargo apron is expected to cost $17 million and the warehouse will cost $13 million.

GSP’s president and chief executive officer, Dave Edwards said: “This new facility is going to be more than a significant accomplishment for Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

“It’s going to provide much-needed support for major manufacturers and have a direct economic impact on the Upstate.”

In fiscal year 2018, the airport district’s Cerulean Aviation supported more than 1,200 cargo flights. GSP’s cargo numbers increased nearly 39 per cent between 2016 and 2017 and the airport moved from No. 84 to No. 72 on the FAA list ranking airport cargo data.

Some of the cargo passing through GSP consists of automobiles, automotive parts and healthcare equipment. This month, the airport is also the entry point for more than 550 horses competing in the World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

“Our business in the Upstate has grown and GSP has provided tremendous support in making this happen,” said Senator International CEO, Tim -Oliver Kirschbaum. “We are looking forward to continuing work with GSP while serving our clients in the Upstate and this new facility will make operations even more efficient.

“When we started our Senator Atlantic Bridge (cargo flights between GSP and Germany’s Munich Airport and Frankfurt-Hahn Airport) in November 2016, we proposed that after a period of time, our flying program would increase.

“Today we operate up to eight flights a week, which makes an increase of apron and warehouse space necessary. We look forward to this new environment for our employees.”

Senator will have 53 staff on-site at the new cargo facility when it opens.

In 2017, the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District took on its fixed-base operator services by launching Cerulean Aviation. Cerulean, not only supports general aviation aircraft and fueling, but it also serves as an air cargo service provider for GSP.

Cerulean’s cargo and aircraft services include on-airport cargo facilities, build-up and break-down of cargo, BUP transfer, bulk and containerized aircraft loading and unloading, on-call charter cargo handling, customs documentation processing and aircraft refueling.

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