Airports Look to Logistics to Grow Revenue

CHICAGO—In a mature market, the nation’s airports increasingly are looking outside the airlines to get their share of revenue, JLL says in a new report. The airports faring best at positioning themselves in the supply chain, at a time when global commerce is growing faster than demand for air freight, sit at the center of population centers with strong logistics infrastructures and ties to trade, in particular biologics and e-commerce.

“Airport executives are increasingly focused on the bigger picture, specifically the role that their airport and the supporting infrastructure play in making shippers’ supply chains more efficient,” says Rich Thompson, managing director of JLL’s Ports Airports and Global Infrastructure group. “The market is not growing as a whole, so they must use every tool they have to stand out, and attract shipping volume.” Growth in air cargo volume was a modest 0.3% to reach 18.8 million metric tons for 2013, and JLL is predicting flat growth for this year.