Perishables increasingly important for EIA

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Edmonton International Airport


Oil and gas continues to remain very important for Edmonton International Airport (EIA) but other sectors including perishables are growing, the airport explains.

Edmonton is known as a manufacturing hub for the oil and gas industry, home to companies including Haliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and Trinidad, meaning a lot of cargo is related to this.

Perishables are proving popular to markets like Japan, and China is also leading Asian market development.

European services are increasing, EIA says: “Increasingly perishables and agrifood products are the growth sectors, as new supply options to Europe open through Amsterdam with KLM, and Reykjavik with Icelandair. Our integrator carriers also provide excellent access through their Memphis (FedEx) and Cincinnati (DHL) gateways.”

EIA has some large expansion plans including the world’s largest pharma medical marijuana facility at 800,000 square feet, to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2017, with 80 per cent of distribution dependent on air cargo.

A 680,000 square foot outlet mall is also due to open in the fourth quarter, as is a 30,000 square foot freight forwarder building, and a Chinese technology incubator giant will establish its first Canadian office in Edmonton.

EIA believes its location at the geographic centre of Western Canada gives it the most efficient access to the West of the country, with cities including Vancouver, Winnipeg and Manitoba within 24 hours by road.

It was also a founding member of Port Alberta, a designated Free Trade Zone providing duty and tax relief for existing or potential investors, manufacturers and distributors.

EIA’s location provides access to the mining industry, it says: “Additionally EIA is located atop the third largest proven oil reserves in the world, with three refineries within 45 minutes of the airport and a fourth in construction, providing excellent Jet A fuel capabilities and pricing to air carriers on the Trans Pacific Polar Route.”

Across Canada the growth of e-commerce is reducing the need for freighters, but EIA’s focus on oil and gas means it will continue to services these aircraft.

EIA says: “We believe EIA as the Oil & Gas Manufacturing Hub of Canada and the big ugly heavy freight it produces (which we find beautiful), will continue being a freighter airport in the long term.”