Last year understandably was the worst year for travel at Harrisburg International Airport based on the number of travelers. But, it was also the best year for cargo at HIA.

“Since last summer, air cargo activity has increased to record levels and our current air cargo providers are out of usable space,” Timothy Edwards, executive director of HIA said.

And on Tuesday, officials gathered to kick off an expansion to HIA’s cargo area. The expansion is expected to eventually increase cargo by 30 percent, provide 350 new permanent jobs, 500 temporary construction jobs, bring in more than $49 million in new landing fees and support more than $4.5 million in new property taxes over a 20-year period.

“We are excited to announce the beginning of one of the largest multi-phase improvement projects in the history of the airport,” Edwards said.

Representatives from the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (which oversees HIA); HIA and Delta Development, a consulting company for HIA were on hand as U.S. Rep. Scott Perry presented a $3.75 million Economic Development Grant to the airport authority. The five-year air cargo reconfiguration and expansion project is expected to cost around $64 million. Perry pointed out that HIA is in the same vicinity as the recently closed Three Mile Island and said the project will bring back good jobs to the area.

The expansion project has two major components — the airside portion and the landside portion. The Airside portion is located beyond the airfield security fence where air cargo is loaded and unloaded onto cargo airplanes. The airport works in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration to fund airside improvements. The landside portion is the public area located before the airfield security fence where tractor trailers, vans, and private vehicles pick up and drop off air cargo. The landside portion of the project is not eligible for FAA funding and that’s where the federal grant comes in.

The project will first include some stormwater work and the demolition of two longtime vacant buildings. The older building is believed to be built in the 1930s and contains asbestos. The second building is believed to be built in the 1960s. The areas will be used as a surface area. And the trucks will be moved to the higher area, which Scott Miller, deputy director of marketing and public relations at HIA said will be safer.

The project will also include the realignment of Third Street and Airport Drive, an expansion of the air cargo apron, the construction of a second air cargo building and room for three more giant planes. FedEx, UPS and DHL, all maintain air service at the airport.

Miller said that the project was delayed because of a renovation at the airport’s runway over the last few years that took precedence.

The airport is located in Lower Swatara Township. Edwards said that airline traffic has picked up at HIA this year. The airport has 16 nonstop destinations. A new route provided by Allegiant Air to Fort Lauderdale will begin on Dec. 15.

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.

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