Welcomes First International Freight Shipment -- Corn

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport took its first step in its quest to become a Midwest cargo hub Sunday night, when it received a cargo flight with 72 tons of seed corn.

The shipment originated from Panama and was duplicated Monday, according to the Associated Press. The shipments arrive more than two years since the struggling airport revealed a $7 million cargo terminal, hoping to redirect cargo business away other Midwestern hubs such as Chicago and Memphis.

Sunday's shipments were flown in by Centurion Airlines and the first two of nine scheduled to arrive this week for a total of 1.4 million pounds of cargo weight. They are a one-time deal and no further international shipments are scheduled as of yet.

Airport Director Tim Cantwell said he hopes this will raise MidAmerica's standing with other cargo companies by drawing regularly scheduled service.

"This is just the beginning," Cantwell said. "As we continue to prove our value from a Midwest distribution standpoint, the international air cargo community will notice the advantage."

That's the hope, anyway.

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport opened in 1998 and is located about 25 miles east of St. Louis and is owned by St. Clair County. It has long been labeled a $330 million boondoggle due to its persistent under use. Until this week, its gleaming new cargo facility has been pretty empty, except for a sprinkling of domestic freight runs.

MidAmerica's effort to recruit cargo business is logical because of the airport's Midwest location and proximity to freeways and analysts are reportedly giving the effort kudos.

Mark Kern, St. Clair County's board chairman said, "This is a big step for us. Centurion Airlines' selecting MidAmerica clearly indicates the market demand we are aiming to capture is there."

The DC-10 was inspected by customs officials, its cargo unloaded, then returned to Panama for its next load of seed corn The corn, grown in South America for St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. is intended for distribution to farmers for the rapidly approaching planting season.

Kern signed a memorandum of understanding in March with the Indonesian industrial authority of Batam, an island off the Singapore coast, to set up an 'air bridge' between the respective airports for cargo flights.

FMI: www.flymidamerica.com