Cargo: A necessary evil for airports and carriers?

Abstract

The cargo business can be hard work for an airport. Cargo generates traffic on airport roads, it occupies important airport land and, of course, it uses vital ramp space while not producing the sort of returns that would be expected of activities with highest and best use. This paper discusses why cargo is so important for most combination carriers, how size of operation is an important factor in making decisions about how to facilitate cargo operations at an airport and the factors that need to be considered by cargo operators and airports in making cargo land and facility decisions. It concludes that cargo is often important to the health of carriers, and is therefore important to airports; as such, it must be supported with good operating conditions.