Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is all set to open a 77,000-square-foot cargo facility dubbed Cargo 4. The facility will include 69,000 square feet of warehouse space and 7,300 square feet of office space across two floors enhancing the cargo-handling capability of PIT. The newly-expanded apron will be able to serve two Boeing 747-8 freighters side by side, or up to four Boeing 757-200s at once.
Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said: “This facility is a major step in growing Pittsburgh International Airport into an international logistics center. Cargo continues to be a major focus for us, and the downstream economic benefits are substantial for the region. We are appreciative that our federal officials understand the importance of air cargo as national critical infrastructure.”
The airport estimates that the benefits of this facility will generate an estimated annual economic impact of $229 million for the region. Also, as per the airport officials, the new facility will enhance the airport’s ability to accept international freight and distribute it throughout the US and North America, making Western Pennsylvania more competitive in a rapidly growing industry and positioning the airport as a gateway for international logistics.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said: “The expansion of cargo at Pittsburgh International Airport continues to be another example of the strong and growing economy of our region. More cargo means more jobs, and I thank our federal delegation for their work in securing the grant that helped get this project to where we are today.”
Additional features of the facility include dedicated areas to house goods valuable, vulnerable or hazardous goods. It will also have expansion capabilities to hold more equipment for special cargo and accommodate temperature-controlled goods plus additional space for security screening for international cargo.
Nearly 250 million pounds of cargo shipped from around the world touched down at PIT in 2021, a 30 percent increase over 2020 and a 26 percent increase from 2019, as demand for air cargo soared amid global supply chain disruptions.
