Memphis International Airport to develop distribution park

Memphis International Airport has hired Inman Construction to build the first phase of its distribution park called Cargo Central.

The new facility will be home to cargo companies such as DHL, ABX Air, Atlas Air, and many others currently based on Cargo Road, said a statement from CoStar Group, a provider of commercial real estate information.

The facility, said CoStar, will be developed in five phases: Air Cargo Building One is a US$6.9 million, 36,000-square-foot warehouse currently under construction with an expected delivery date of May 2008. An additional 61,500 square feet will be added as each phase progresses.

The aim is to provide its smaller cargo tenants with more room to do business efficiently and grow their cargo handling activities. The airport also intends to attract new cargo business.

Inman Construction has been charged with balancing the airport's needs for high security and hazardous materials storage, while providing business-friendly areas and comfortable management spaces.

Memphis International Airport has maintained its number one ranking as the top air cargo handler in the world since 1992, according to statistics reported by Switzerland-based Airports Council International. The tenant-line up includes express transport giant FedEx dominating 95 per cent of all cargo transports at the airport 24 hours a day, the report added.