The future of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport can be summed up in one word. "Chi-normous."
In other words, China's vast and rapidly growing appetite for American goods will pave the way for the airport's prosperity as an overseas air cargo hub, according to Tim Cantwell, the airport director.
"The Asian market is Chi-normous," Cantwell told members of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce's "Issues & Eggs Breakfast," at Fisher's Restaurant.
"There are 1.4 billion people there, and they're getting more money in their pockets," he said.
Cantwell painted an upbeat picture of the airport's future, noting that on April 24 a St. Clair County delegation, headed by County Board Chairman Mark Kern, signed a memo of understanding with leaders of Hunan Province, a populous region in China's south.
"Hunan Province is just south of Beijing," he said. "Hunan Province has a hundred million residents. Just a province. A little bit smaller than Texas."
Cantwell acknowledged that plans for a $6 million airport warehouse, to be built by Wall Street investor John Hewitt, are running behind schedule for a September completion date.
"I think the warehouse will be built," he said, "but it's a little late right now."
Hewitt could not be reached for comment.
The 62,500 square-foot warehouse Hewitt agreed to build last year, and with the help of $250,000 from St. Clair County, is supposed to replace the 50,000 square-foot warehouse that the Boeing Co. took over and has turned into an aircraft assembly and sub-assembly facility.
Cantwell downplayed concerns that Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which is betting heavily on establishing itself as a cargo hub for Chinese imports and exports, poses a competitive threat to MidAmerica, located in Mascoutah.
"In essence, a high tide raises all ships. Big demand," he said. "In both ways. There's a lot of it. You don't have to be the only ones." |
