JFK Airport has opened a state-of-the-art cargo facility for the first time in over 25 years.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey(PANYNJ), in partnership with Realterm and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 23.
Operated by WFS, JFK’s primary cargo handler, the 350,000-square-foot consolidated cargo handling center replaces two older facilities and costs $270 million.
The facility, Building 260, boasts a slew of high-tech operations equipment, which is expected to streamline operations and reduce truck driver wait times.
Some of the new technology includes an advanced truck dock management system designed to optimize the flow of goods in and out of the facility. This system leverages real-time scheduling, automated check-ins, and digital communication between drivers and dock operators.
The new consolidated cargo handling center is also JFK’s first dedicated facility for temperature-controlled shipments. It is outfitted with 3,000 square feet of cooler space for goods requiring 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius environments, making it JFK’s first dedicated on-airport facility for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishables.
The new cargo center will consolidate operations from four separate cargo zones into a single modernized space.
Rick Cotton, executive director of PANYNJ; Michael Simpson, CEO of WFS North America; and Bob Fordi, CEO of Realterm, shared their perspectives on the landmark achievement.
Cargo plays an essential role in the regional and national economies. JFK is the 8th busiest cargo airport in the country, handling nearly 1.7 million tons of cargo. Cotton emphasized that the opening of Building 260 is the first step towards JFK’s opening of world-class, modernized cargo facilities.
“Today is the first step, but obviously not the last, toward bringing this vision of 21st-century cargo operations,” Cotton said. “We aspire to see JFK airport emerge as the leading cargo operation in terms of high-value cargo.”
Cotton added that as cargo demand experienced a 25% increase during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was apparent that PANYNJ needed more facilities in place to respond to the surge. “We recognize that we need to expand, we need to enhance our cargo handling capabilities to meet the need, and the new facility we celebrate today positions JFK as a premier hub for the future of air cargo,” he said.
WFS committed to the massive project in 2018 and faced the unprecedented global pandemic in 2020. Simpson said that WFS has grown an expansive partnership with JFK over the past decades. “When WFS established operations in JFK 41 years ago, we were the newcomers. Today, our footprint exceeds 1 million square feet across 8 facilities, serving 38 leading airline partners,” he said. “ This building symbolizes our commitment to excellence and advancing the airline industry.”
Fordi added that the one-of-a-kind cargo facility demonstrates the success of public-private partnerships.
The Realterm CEO said he was particularly proud that the facility achieved LEED Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council. “LEED buildings save money, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier communities, reflecting Realterm’s commitment to meeting our climate goals,” Fordi said.
The facility is in line wth PANYNJ’s industry-leading commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to facilitate the same goal for its operational partners.
The new cargo handling center features electric forklifts, electric vehicle chargers, and an automated unit load device system to optimize power usage.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards was also in attendance at Wednesday’s event. During the ceremony, he touched on the economic impact the cargo facility and the massive $19 billion JFK modernization project will have on Queens. “This is really a great day for the working people of Queens,” Richards said. “As we continue to rebuild this airport, we are going to continue to keep Queens first and foremost in our minds, and that includes the employment of our people, the health of our economy, and the future of our borough. By increasing our capacity to ship goods in and out, we are making it easier for our small businesses, most importantly, to flourish as well.”
As for the impact the cargo facility will have on residents living near JFK, James Johson, executive director of the Gateway JFK BID, believes that the facility is a step in the right direction. Johnson told QNS that operations at Building 260 will pave the way for less truck congestion and long-term parking in residential and commercial areas on the outskirts of JFK airport. “This helps a lot to alleviate traffic patterns, and more importantly, it helps with trucks that relocated to the BID,” he said. “ We applaud the Port Authority and its partners for prioritizing community impact, job creation, and innovation in freight logistics. This helps advance the broader North Cargo Area Redevelopment Initiative, which aims to reduce congestion and improve logistics flow. But more importantly, this is a great example of how Port Authority land can be utilized to deliver long-term value to both industry and the surrounding community,” he added.
