ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay is confirming that cargo flights from China to Lambert Airport will begin September 23rd, "There is going to be a flight coming into St. Louis, that will start an air cargo route between Shanghai and St. Louis. Right now it's tentatively set for four o'clock in the afternoon."
That confirms a report published in the China Daily newspaper as reported on KMOX in July.
Speaking on KMOX's Total Information AM Sunday, Slay said the flights will begin with one a week with a goal of increasing them to three a week before the holidays. Slay says it's a start, but it's not a hub, "What we need to do is make sure we can convince the Chinese that we can have enough goods to go the back-haul so we can fill these planes on the way back, otherwise it would not be worth the effort from our standpoint or theirs.
"We have to make sure the freight-forwarders and shippers will send their goods through St. Louis and we do have some conditional commitments in that regard."
Slay says for that to happen, the Missouri legislature must pass Aerotropolis legislation during the special session which opens Tuesday, "There are tax credits for freight forwarders and for those who invest in facilities to help build the capacity to make Lambert a true international cargo hub. You can't take advantage of those tax credits unless the investment is made and importing and exporting is occurring."
As for Aerotropolis' chances in the special session, Slay tells KMOX, "There seems to be a fair amount of support, but we all know until it's done, it isn't done."
Missouri Senator Roy Blunt issued a statement praising the first flight, "This is a critical step forward for St. Louis and for the entire state's economic development. I applaud this important partnership, which will help create more private sector jobs in Missouri and increase domestic exports throughout the region."
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