China Hub Deal Takes Giant Step Forward
Fox 2
January 19, 2011
The St. Louis Midwest China Hub project is a very significant step closer to reality. It was announced Wednesday that the Chinese government has tabbed China Eastern Airlines to enter direct negotiations with Lambert Airport to iron out details for regular routes between St. Louis and, presumably, Shanghai, where China Eastern's cargo division is based.
Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill tells FOX 2 that the move should leave us just months from the first planes flying the route.
"I remain very confident that we will have products on Chinese cargo flights from the Midwest, agricultural products, manufactured products, leaving Lambert Field by the end of the summer," she said by phone from Kansas City.
A Chinese delegation will be in St. Louis this weekend, where this latest step is expected to be among the topics.
McCaskill says the direct negotiations between the airline and Lambert still has a number of details to iron out.
"The things that are gonna be discussed are what is the cargo load coming in, and the cargo load going out? What is the turn around time on customs? What is the frequency of flights? What is going to be the frequency of flights? What kind of availability will there be as far as warehousing and other logistical services?"
Reports out of Asia point to China Eastern, the nation's second largest airline, being in the process of putting together a massive cargo division by combining several smaller Chinese cargo carriers. The government owned airline would dominate cargo flights in and out of Shanghai, that nations number one port for imports and exports.
The Associated Press quotes Midwest-China Hub Commission Chairman Mike Jones as saying, "while much work remains, the decision suggests that there is considerable interest in selecting St. Louis as a hub."
McCaskill will not go so far as to call it a done deal, but she comes close.
"I would hesitate to say anything will go quickly or that there will be any kind of rubber stamp. There are some details to be worked out. But this is a major step and it is hard to envision this thing going south now."
