Evolving the Memphis aerotropolis

Abstract

As the world's busiest cargo airport for the last 17 years, Memphis International Airport is ideally positioned to become North America's first true aerotropolis. Coined by Dr John Kasarda of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the word ‘aerotropolis’ is defined as a community that grows, or is even created, with an airport as its economic engine. Today, in Memphis, business leaders, elected officials, economic development agencies and the Airport Authority are all working in concert to ensure that the opportunity for Memphis to take a leadership role in this new type of economic community is not missed. This paper examines the history of Memphis as a centre of distribution, the present economic impact of distribution and the efforts underway to pave the community's path for the future.