Anchorage airport considers construction of ‘quick cargo’ warehouse

The Anchorage airport is looking into building a large warehouse to allow for air cargo to be stored on-site, officials said.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport issued a formal invitation to companies Thursday seeking ideas for constructing and operating a "quick cargo" center, Alaska's Energy Desk reported.

"What we want to do is provide a facility where people can store stuff on a quick basis to keep things out of the elements and secure," said Jim Szczesniak, the airport manager.

The Anchorage airport ranks among the busiest cargo airports in the world. Air tonnage increased by 5.2 percent to more than 1.34 million metric tons of cargo during the first half of this year, according to data from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

The warehouse would be situated near the cargo plane parking area, and it could house offices for shipping companies. The facility would allow layovers for cargo, so one plane could drop off a load from one part of the world and another plane could pick it up to continue the cargo's journey.

The airport is examining two possible sites. One would allow for a warehouse the size of six football fields.

Construction of the facility might be supported by the Alaska Economic Development and Export Authority, Szczesniak said.

The airport is seeking responses by mid-December.