China airline considering Lambert as air cargo hub
The St. Louis American
January 21, 2011
Local leaders cheered as St. Louis took a big step Wednesday towards making Lambert-St. Louis International Airport a hub for trade with China.
The Midwest-China Hub Commission announced Wednesday that China Cargo Airline is negotiating and studying the use of Lambert Airport as an international air cargo hub.
"This is welcome news and a key benchmark we have been diligently working toward," said Mike Jones, chairman of the Midwest-China Hub Commission. "It is yet another important part of the process of opening this new air trade route with China, but there is still much work to do. We are only at the feasibility stage, although the designation suggests there is considerable interest from the Chinese side."
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, director of the airport, said this is the news they've been waiting for.
The Midwest-China Hub Commission was formed in 2009 and is a public-private collaboration among St. Louis region and state governmental and business leaders.
