Second Asian Freight Company Chooses Pittsburgh International Airport as Air Cargo Distribution Point

The Allegheny County Airport Authority announced today that UTi Worldwide Inc. of New York has selected Pittsburgh International Airport as its distribution point for chartered cargo flights from Asia.

Another company, Wings Logistics, announced a similar cargo program last month and recently informed the Airport Authority that its shipments will extend from the end of August through the end of the year, the Authority also reported.

UTi Worldwide is an information-focused global integrated logistics company that provides air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage and other supply chain management services to customers around the world.

UTi flights will be scheduled on average of one per week through August 2010, beginning May 15, 2010. The initial flights will come from Shanghai and Vietnam.

"We are very pleased to announce new air cargo service in Pittsburgh and anticipate that we can deliver the competitive advantage to each of our client's supply chains due to efficiencies of airfield operations, location to other cities for truck delivery and the time reduction in transit," said Frank Bello, Vice President of UTi Worldwide. "This new service offering will maximize value along the supply chain with high quality, cost effective, delivery from end to end."

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said the announcement provides more evidence that Pittsburgh International Airport is well positioned to serve as an international cargo hub.

"We have been working for several years to promote the availability of our cargo facilities and our capacity to handle all types of aircraft, as well as our great highway, rail and water connections," Onorato said. "Today’s announcement shows that our trade missions to Asia are paying off, and it opens the door to even more opportunities that could mean more jobs, commerce and development.”

The airport, which is 100 percent compliance for homeland security screening, continues to actively seek new cargo opportunities as the deadline approaches for cargo services to meet the stricter screening requirements, said Bradley D. Penrod, Executive Director/CEO, Airport Authority, adding that the new cargo flights will benefit existing ground cargo companies at the airport.

“This is great news because the Allegheny County Airport Authority has been actively pursuing growth in our cargo operations. Pittsburgh International Airport has a great deal to offer freight forwarders including excellent access to interstates, cooperative teamwork with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in facilitating timely clearances and a terrific geographic location to 80 percent of the North America’s population and business centers,” stated Glenn R. Mahone, Chairman, Allegheny County Airport Authority.