Major air cargo hubs across North America, including Memphis, Louisville, and Cincinnati, are experiencing significant congestion and are operating at or near their maximum capacity. This situation is creating opportunities for smaller, secondary airports to develop and expand their air cargo operations.
These secondary airports are actively investing in new infrastructure and offering less congested environments to attract freight traffic. For instance, Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) is leveraging its strong local manufacturing sector, which includes major players like BMW, Michelin, and Volvo, to build out its cargo capabilities.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend offers potential benefits. It could lead to alternative routing options, especially for cargo originating from or destined for regions served by these secondary airports. Utilizing less congested airports might improve transit times and reduce ground handling delays, although it may require adjustments to existing trucking networks. It also provides more choices for shippers looking to avoid the bottlenecks and potential surcharges associated with primary hubs, potentially impacting overall logistics costs and efficiency.
