Nov. 06--Leaders at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport are in early discussions with a Texas company seeking to develop an air cargo facility for goods moving to and from Mexico.
The St. Louis Airport Authority is expected to consider an agreement giving Brownsville International Air Cargo Inc. first right of refusal to lease up to 43,165 square feet of cargo space at Lambert.
Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge declined to comment through a spokesman.
But a staff report accompanying a copy of the proposed agreement states that Brownsville International has shown its ability to "develop and operate a dual-Customs international air cargo terminal facility" at Lambert.
The company, according to the report, "has expertise and experience" in successfully negotiating with Mexican government agencies and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency for a similar facility at Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport in Texas.
Company officials were not immediately available for comment.
But Larry Brown, director of the Brownsville airport, confirmed that the airport was about to begin construction on a 20,000-square-foot hangar that would accommodate U.S. Customs offices on the cargo side of the airport.
The facility could house Mexican customs agents to clear flights bound for airports in that country that do not have customs services.
Michael Webber, an air cargo consultant in Texas, suggested that the U.S.-Mexico air cargo market was "very small" right now, meaning this idea might be "something with a pretty modest upside from the beginning."
Webber was a vocal critic of Lambert's efforts to develop a cargo hub for goods moving to and from China. On Sept. 23, 2011, a China Cargo flight carrying 80 tons of manufactured products landed at Lambert and was greeted by dignitaries from across the region. Since then, there has been only one additional cargo flight between St. Louis and China. Airport officials blamed a downturn in the international cargo market.
Two and a half years ago, Lambert signed a memorandum of agreement with a Texas startup airline to explore potential air freight in Latin America. That proposal involved Pan American Airways Inc., based in Brownsville.
Lambert spokesman Jeff Lea said Tuesday that those negotiations never led to any air cargo service between St. Louis and Latin America.
In addition to the St. Louis Airport Authority, this latest agreement would have to go to the St. Louis Estimate Board and the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
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