Consider the line up of new services added to IAH’s off erings this year: Cathay Pacific Cargo started new thrice weekly all-cargo service from Houston to Hong Kong on 6 March; Qatar started new daily nonstop service to Doha on 30 March; Continental Airlines started new daily nonstop service to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 1 August; Alaska Airlines started new, daily nonstop service to Seattle, WA on 23 September; Continental Airlines started new three times daily nonstop service to Washington DC (Dulles), new, daily nonstop service to Edmonton, Canada, and new, daily nonstop service to Frankfurt, Germany all on 1 November; TACA will start new, daily nonstop service to San Salvador, El Salvador on 15 November; and Air Canada will start new, daily nonstop service to Montreal, Canada on 30 November.

On the negative side, Korean Air Cargo decided to stop service in June 2009. “Fortunately, we have been in close communication with their executives and there is a high possibility that they will come back when the economy improves,” reveals Aviles.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines will be increasing from four times weekly to five times weekly its Singapore-Moscow service that stops at IAH, effective 18 December and Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, and EVA Air Cargo are continuing their service offerings to IAH. China Airlines Cargo is reinstating its second weekly flight for its winter schedule, effective 29 October.

Helping fuel this activity is the fact Houston is a global energy capital, and IAH has positioned itself as an important distribution hub for Asia and the Middle East. “As of today, we have eight passenger and all-cargo carriers with direct service to Asian and Middle Eastern cities,”Aviles says.

A balanced trade
“Exports (industrial, oil/gas, engineering/ construction equipment) are traditionally strong, and imports are beginning to grow through the added air service to Asia and the Middle East,” says Aviles.

The air cargo loaded from Houston includes the region’s top export items, such as oil and gas equipment, industrial machinery and high-tech components. Shippers then distribute the freight to Houston’s key trading partners in China, Japan, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

“Air cargo trade with Asia and the Middle East combined represents 49 per cent of our international air cargo trade,” he adds. “In 2008, we handled more than 97,000 tonnes of air cargo trade between Houston and these regions.”

In total, air cargo airlines at IAH handled more than 372,000 tonnes of air freight in 2008, a 14 per cent increase as compared to volumes handled five years earlier. Helping its business is the fact Houston is the fourth largest exporter in the United States and the tenth largest exporter of air cargo by both weight and value.

Flexible growth
“In addition, it’s our flexibility to accommodate growth that results in new carriers recognising Houston’s strategic location and fast-growing cargo market,” Aviles says. “Carriers are working on their long-term plans, and IAH is prepared to accommodate their expansion plans when the world economy improves.”

IAH is fortunate to have plenty of space to grow in Houston and still has the ability to expand its Cargo Center. Th at Center offers 550,000 square feet of warehousing and a ramp capacity for up to 20 widebody aircraft.

IAH has opened its new Fresh Air Cargo Center and will begin receiving shipments of fresh-cut flowers from South America in mid-November. Th e 28,750-square-foot structure to be operated by Tradewinds Cargo Handling is Houston’s first large-scale cold-storage air cargo facility. While flowers will be the launch product, produce and other perishables will be added later.

“This facility will establish Houston as an import gateway for shippers in Latin America that want to diversify their Miami operations,” Aviles comments. “We serve Dallas, San Antonio and Austin in Texas; and for the big truckers,we’re midway