Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) began construction this week on a new Air Cargo Logistics Park at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ). The new facility is meant to increase capacity at the airport and support the export of Nova Scotia businesses’ goods to international markets.
The Air Cargo Logistics Park will be built on 25 acres of vacant land at YHZ and will include a new cargo apron area, buildings for cargo handling, an aircraft de-icing facility and associated airside and groundside operational areas. The facility will be the largest in Atlantic Canada and is expected to open in early 2021, HIAA said.
“The long-term impact will add storage capacity for our seafood products that are destined for global markets, which adds value to the local fishery and supports rural communities in Nova Scotia,” said Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Sean Fraser, in a statement.
Cargo exports out of YHZ grew continually over the past five years and created a total economic output of C$514.1 million (US$386.75) for the provincial economy in 2018, according to HIAA. The new cargo facility will play a key role in helping Nova Scotia businesses bring more of their products, such as lobster, to international markets, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said.
The Canadian federal government invested C$18 million in the project, which is further supplemented by investments from the Nova Scotian provincial government and HIAA of C$5 and C$13 million, respectively.