• Port Authority Board of Commissioners approves lease deal with Aero JFK II LLC for new, State-of-the-Art 346,000 square-foot cargo facility.

• $132-million investment represents key first step of comprehensive vision plan for JFK – follows Airport Advisory Panel recommendation to enhance JFK’s position in International Air Cargo Market.

• JFK Cargo Industry supports 50,000 total jobs, $8.6 Billion in sales, and almost $3 Billion in wages.

• Project includes $70 Million investment in new cargo facility plus $62.2 Million upgrade to two taxiways to allow larger cargo planes to access north side warehouses.

• Projects support goal of 30% MWBE participation.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a long-term lease between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Aero JFK II, LLC for a 21st century, state-of-the-art 346,000 square-foot cargo handling facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The $132 million combined investment in the facility and taxiway upgrades represent the first phase of the modernization of air cargo operations at JFK, fulfilling a major recommendation of the Governor’s Aviation Advisory Panel to enhance the airport’s position in the international air cargo market, and is a key first step in the ambitious plan to transform and modernize JFK into a world-class airport. The JFK cargo industry currently supports 50,000 jobs, $8.6 billion in sales and almost $3 billion in wages, and these investments will help grow the industry and create additional jobs. Agreements associated with this project will include the goal of reaching a combined participation rate of 30 percent Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises or MWBE.

“We are transforming JFK into a world-class, state-of-the art airport and — with this new cargo facility — a major economic engine,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this much-needed modernization of JFK’s cargo operations, we will help create jobs and support economic growth across the entire New York metropolitan area for years to come.”

In addition to approving the $70 million investment for the new cargo warehouse, the Port Authority Board also approved a $62.2 million project to rehabilitate and enhance Taxiways CA and CB, which were last rehabilitated in the 1980s and designed for fleets of aircraft that predate today’s modern and larger cargo planes. The runway rehabilitation of Taxiways CA and CB includes the realignment of portions of both taxiways to allow the industry’s largest cargo planes to access the airport’s north cargo area, along with electrical and drainage improvements and upgrades of crossing taxiway areas.

The Vision Plan recommendations for enhancing cargo operations call for consolidation, upgrading and expansion of cargo facilities onto the airport’s north side, reducing transfer times, positioning cargo operations where there is convenient, efficient road access to off-airport cargo operations, and phasing out existing obsolete and underused warehouses. More than half of JFK’s cargo buildings are more than 40 years old, and do not meet current industry standards, including the two that will be demolished on the site of the proposed new facility.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “John F. Kennedy International Airport long has been one of the nation’s most important destinations, not only for passengers, but also for the movement of air cargo and we are taking concrete action to ensure that remains the case throughout the 21st century. The Governor’s Vision Plan for JFK recognizes that cargo commerce at our airports is vital to the region’s needs for goods and services, as well as a critical component in creating jobs and boosting the economy. Today’s authorization is an important first step to transforming JFK’s cargo facilities into a best-in-class 21st Century operation as well as our broader ambitions to transform JFK.”

Erin Gruver, Aeroterm’s Chief Development Officer, said, “This project serves as a critical first step in revitalizing JFK’s air cargo sector. We are privileged to be entrusted by the Governor and the Port Authority to fund and develop such an essential piece of JFK’s future. We look forward to delivering this state-of-the-art and high profile project to Worldwide Flight Services who, along with their airline partners will occupy and operate long term in the facility. Adding this new project to our existing facilities at JFK brings our total investment in the airport to more than $200 million highlighting the value we place on JFK and New York.”

The Port Authority board approved a new lease agreement with Aero JFK II for the development of the new state-of-the-art cargo handling facility at the site of Buildings 260/261, a parcel exceeding 26 acres. The existing buildings are more than 40 years old and are vacant given their inability to handle today’s modern cargo shipments.