Uproar over plans to end cargo operations at JFK airport

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has recently lashed out at Andrew Cuomo, New York state governor, and his plans to move existing cargo operations from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Stewart International Airport.

Cuomo announced the plans to move cargo from JFK to Stewart at the Modernize our Airports: Gateways to New York conference held on October 20th. The conference, attended by US vice president Joe Biden, revealed that the plan would involve setting up a tax free zone at Stewart airport to encourage business to relocate. It was also revealed the new plans would see JFK and LaGuardia Airport modernise its facilities.

AfA director general, Brandon Fried explained how his members “initially viewed them [the plans] as not serious and also indicative of the lack of knowledge of the impact air cargo has on JFK, the New York area and the nation as a whole.”

Fried also said of his want to talk to Cuomo to express his reasons as to why moving cargo operations may not be a practical idea: “We think that inviting freight forwarders to the table and other stake holders to give Cuomo a better understanding of the importance of cargo and that air cargo has be to part of the solution.” Fried also added: “Cargo is an afterthought for most people…” Fried continued that JFK, as an airport, has “horrible road access issues” and it is “not very well laid out”.