Hartford Business Journal

14 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 21, 2022 Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon stands outside Bradley International Airport as a plane pulls in. HBJ PHOTO | SKYLER FRAZER Ready For Liftoff? Bradley International Airport aims to become a Northeast cargo hub By Skyler Frazer sfrazer@hartfordbusiness.com W ith air travel gradually ramping up again following the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley International Airport is turning its sights on another goal: estab- lishing the Windsor Locks-based airfield as a Northeast cargo hub. According to data from the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) — the quasi-public state agency established in 2011 to manage and operate Bradley International Airport and the state's five other general aviation airports — Bradley's cargo-related revenues spiked from $6.8 million in fiscal year 2020 to almost $9.4 million in 2021. That accounts for the largest year- over-year increase in cargo revenues in at least a decade, according to the CAA, which believes a shift in consumer spending to online shop- ping and e-commerce — a trend bolstered by the pandemic — will continue to boost the airport's cargo business. Bradley collects rental and landing fees from freight carriers that operate on its grounds. In 2022, cargo revenues were $9.3 million, still well- above historic norms. "We think Bradley is geographically located to serve all of the Northeast as a major distribution point for air cargo coming and going from the region," said CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon. "It's not only an opportunity, but we feel we have a responsibility to try and exploit cargo opportunities at Bradley." 'Aerotropolis' Dillon said the CAA wants Bradley to be a regional "aerotropolis," meaning that it serves both the air travel needs of residents and visitors in addition to being an economic generator for the area. "Airports serve as a central hub for all sorts of economic develop- ment that radiates outward from the airport," Dillon said. This is where cargo capabilities come into play. According to the CAA, Bradley has approximately 3.3 million square feet dedicated to cargo operations, and there's room to grow. Integrated carriers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL have a significant presence at Bradley. The CAA convinced Amazon to establish air operations at Bradley about five years ago, Dillon said. The e-commerce giant operates about 90,000 square feet of cargo processing space at the airport. Another freight service operator, Pinnacle Logistics — which ships packages for Amazon — set up shop in a 394,000-square-foot space at Bradley in 2018. "The fact that they (Amazon) have been able to grow in Connecticut, I'd like to think, is related to the fact that they have the air capability at Bradley," Dillon said. Adam Winstanley, a principal of commercial real estate devel- opment and investment firm Winstanley Enterprises, has been monitoring activity around Bradley for years. His company owns several massive warehouse properties in the region with tenants that use a mix of rail, truck and air to transport goods. COVID-19 restrictions begin- ning in 2020 changed everything for some companies. "I think a lot of companies have been caught flat-footed by having too much reliance on traditional routes of transportation," Winstanley said. "They have manufacturing in China that comes over to a U.S. port by container, then trucked out to a series of warehouses. … I think that type of supply chain has become very disruptive, and with the lockdowns in China, a lot of people couldn't get their supply out of China so they had to switch to air cargo." Winstanley said that at least one of his company's local construction proj- ects in New Haven has had supply chain disruptions because of ground travel delays, so it has relied more on air shipping. "There are certain times where it is hugely advantageous to have a major transportation hub because there are times when you'll pay more to get what you need faster," Winstanely said. "Bradley plays a very important role in the region." Bradley's importance as a cargo hub has been reflected in the boom in warehouse development in Greater Hartford, particularly north of the Capital City in towns like Windsor and Enfield. New warehouse proposals have been so significant in recent years that some towns have implemented moratoriums on new construction. The more, the better MetroHartford Alliance President and CEO David Griggs said he's supportive of Bradley ramping up cargo efforts over the next several years. It's all about increasing Connecticut's ability to compete with other states and regions, he said. "The more goods that we can trans- port in and out of our communities the better," Griggs said. "Without an airport, we would not have the number of companies that we do — Bradley is an extremely important asset to the region and to our business community," he added. Dillon said CAA's cargo revenues pale in comparison to passen- ger-service revenues, but they are just as important when it comes to establishing the airport as a regional hub for all types of economic activity. For example, establishing a local alternative for manufacturers to ship and receive parts and goods is key to helping grow that industry. "If you look at the alternatives in the region when it comes to cargo, a lot of the large manufacturers still send their cargo out of JFK in New York," Dillon said. "JFK, in a lot of respects, is overpriced and congested, so we think we have a real opportunity to capitalize on that here at Bradley." Development opportunities The Bradley Development League is a nonprofit organization made up of representatives from the four communities surrounding the airport: East Granby, Suffield, Windsor and Windsor Locks. Parts of each town make up the Bradley Airport Development Zone, which offers tax incentives and benefits to companies looking to build in the area. "We work to get more business development around the airport by marketing potential sites and opportunities," said Windsor Economic Development Director Patrick McMahon. Suffield Director of Planning and Development Bill Hawkins said the Bradley Development League targets industries that could utilize the airport and nearby advanced manufacturers. He said JSW Media Inc., an e-commerce company that works with Amazon, in 2019 built a facility close to the airport to make use of shipping opportunities. In Windsor, Amazon has built or opened three facilities since 2016. The latest and largest — a 3.5-million- square-foot fulfillment center at 1215 Kennedy Road — opened recently and is currently hiring. "I'm sure that the location decision

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