Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) has approved a lease agreement with FedEx Express to maintain the company’s presence at Ontario International Airport for at least three more decades.
Under the initial 30-year lease, FedEx Express will relocate its operations to a 51.1-acre site located in the northwest quadrant of the Californian airport, with the move expected to take place in late 2020 when site preparations have been completed.
OIAA president, Alan D. Wapner says the FedEx agreement comes at an important time for Ontario, which has experienced rapid cargo growth.
He says: “The transfer of Ontario to local control in 2016 has enabled us to transform the airport into an economic engine for the Inland Empire. In addition to adding exciting new domestic and international airline service, we have made strong steady gains in cargo operations, which bodes well for the airport’s economic development potential.”
Wapner adds: “That FedEx is making such a sizeable commitment to Ontario for the next 30 years or longer is a testament to what we are doing to make Ontario an attractive hub for shipping companies.”
FedEx Express will invest almost $100 million to revitalise aircraft parking apron areas; consolidate and construct a sorting facility, ground support staging area, secondary and maintenance buildings; enhance perimeter fencing; and install landscaping, with improvements expected to be completed by November 2020.
The OIAA will clear the northwest site by removing existing structures above and below ground and performing surface grading.
It will also coordinate the environmental analysis and assessments, and any necessary removal and management, to be completed by 31 January 2019.
FedEx Express has operated at Ontario, which is located 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, for 31 years, occupying 18.5 acres on the airport’s south side.
The agreement includes two 10-year options exercisable by FedEx potentially extending it to 50 year.
It also offers FedEx the opportunity to lease approximately 40 additional acres adjacent to the northwest quadrant premises for additional cargo facilities or ramp infrastructure.
