Yes, we have a China cargo flight -- to MidAmerica
Story Discussion BY DAVID NICKLAUS •
dnicklaus@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8213 | Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010 3:17 pm |
Even as a local delegation prepares for yet another trip to discuss a St. Louis-China cargo connection, the folks across the river are making it happen.
MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah issued a press release saying that a test flight from Shanghai landed today and unloaded 83 tons of cargo. And the test will be quickly followed by regular service, the news release says:
With the success of the first flight, regular air cargo service from Asia to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.
This stunning announcement comes less than a week after MidAmerica leased its existing cargo warehouse to Boeing for a manufacturing plant. No problem, though: The airport says it will build a new cargo warehouse by the first quarter of 2011.
When I wrote earlier this summer about the St. Louis region's competing China hub strategies, I certainly didn't think we'd have a winner this soon. Here are a few more details on today's flight, from MidAmerica's news release:
"The test flight carried 83 kilo tons of general cargo. Sky Lease Cargo, based in Greensboro, NC, operated the aircraft, and Beijing Expedient Services and Transportation LTD (EST Cargo) of China chartered the flight, consolidated the freight in Shanghai and coordinated the loading. En route from Shanghai, the aircraft made a servicing stop in Anchorage, Alaska, as most aircrafts from Asia do. After the successful landing at MidAmerica, the cargo is being unloaded to waiting trucks that will transport it from there to O'Hare, Dallas, New York, Minneapolis and Atlanta for further distribution. By mid-afternoon, the aircraft will be back in the air as it continues on to Piedmont Triad International Airport (KGSO) in Greesnboro, NC."
Source