Lambert St Louis International Airport's (STL) plans to create an aerotropolis based around trade with China received a huge boost with the inauguration of direct cargo flights by China Airlines on September 23, following years of negioations with parent company China Eastern.The new weekly route will operate from Shanghai-Anchorage-St Louis with a B747-400F and the new service will see manufactured and electronic goods shipped from China and perishables and industrial products transported from Mid West markets. As demand grows, STL expects the service to go to three times a week by late 2011 or early 2012.
The new service is the culmination of years of talks between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Midwest"ÉChina Hub Commission, a group of Missouri"Ébased business and associations dedicated to regional growth through international trade and warmly endorsed by the airport authorities.
"One. Two. Three multi-air cargo hubs are not enough. We need more," commented Yang Guoqiang, Chinese Consul General, Chicago. "We need Lambert to be the new China Cargo hub," while St Louis Missouri Mayor Francis Slay said the new service would truly connect St Louis to the world.
The airline will operate out of a 40,000sqm warehouse on a two year lease, while Airport Terminal Services (ATS) in partnership with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has been contracted to run its ground handling operations.
