More Specialized Air Cargo Facilities
There will be a need for greater specialization in airport cargo facilities. This includes specialization that meets the individual operating needs of the carriers, cargo tenants, airport and the cargo industry will be required. Efficiencies to keep costs down while accelerating cargo processing and improving customer service will be the key. This may include the development of more sophisticated and automated facilities. Some are becoming multi-story at the larger cargo gateway airports, such as the Japan Airlines (JAL)
facility at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), designed to serve the needs of multiple tenants in the same facility. The airport gains in providing facilities and supporting infrastructure that conserves land, capital, and building space; increases handling efficiencies; and lowers unit costs. The carriers and other cargo tenants benefit by having the use of a highly efficient facility that processes cargo rapidly and lowers costs due to shared facility expenses and use of the facility only as required. At some point in the future, continuing cargo growth will force the vertical development of facilities.