Industry Insights
By Air
As the air cargo industry evolves, the New York City region and its airport system must implement changes that both respond to emerging trends and the needs of its supply chain management and logistics partners.
There is much to learn starting with key reports and articles that provide context for recognizing the economic significance and the synergies between the on (JFK) airport cargo operations and the off-airport GatewayJFK supply chain management and logistics firms that not only support freight that travels by air, but also by land and sea across the nation and the world.
Off-Airport Infrastructure
Robert Caton, Vice President of Development at RealTerm (formerly Aeroterm) and a GatewayJFK Board member, authored the article “Air Cargo Industry Biggest Challenge – Off-Airport Infrastructure” in the Fall 2022 edition of Forward, a publication of the Air Forwarders Association. With over 34 years of diversified air cargo experience, Mr. Caton speaks of what he knows best.
Mr. Caton highlights the challenges of what the off-airport cargo community of GatewayJFK live day-in and day-out. Planning investment in off-airport infrastructure with our government partners is critical and cannot be overlooked and ignored. Mr. Caton stresses, “There is a need to look holistically at both the on- and off- airport air cargo related business activity, since the air cargo supply chain is only as good as its weakest link.”
Safeguarding the Future of Air Cargo | Public-Private Partnerships in Investment
With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law providing $15 billion for airport-related runways, terminals, air cargo and roadway projects, making transformative progress at improving airport cargo operations must be undertaken to safeguard the future of air cargo. Our report, JFK Cargo View: A System to Speed Truck Traffic Flow at JFK Airport (2022), the white paper prepared by the Airforwarders Association and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (2021), and Dan Muscatello’s article “Air Cargo Facility Development – Advancing the Case for Public -Private Partnerships” (Fall 2021) all make clear that the challenges the air cargo industry faces cannot be overcome incrementally. No single effort will work unless there is a national strategy backed by public funding and leadership with broad stakeholder participation.
Target initiatives should be directed at these key issues:
Independent and competing supply chain participants can only be integrated via a universally adopted digital electronic system that connects disparate systems. Its operation must be managed by the airport and designed with stakeholder input.
Increased pay, benefits and training with promising career opportunities is critical.
Federal government must quicken the new employee qualification process and maintain records in a national database. The outdated paper-based trucker lists must be replaced.
The Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) practices, staffing, training, and processes must be upgraded and transformed.
The success of DHL, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon proves that speed and efficiency of a fully integrated supply chain can be achieved and implement through the public-private partnership efforts at the nation’s airports.
JFK Redevelopment Projects
JFK Redevelopment projects are underway, representing a united terminal layout, quality amenities, on-airport traffic pattern redesign, centralized ground transportation, expanded taxiways and gate capacity, and modern security systems. Read More About JFK Redevelopment
JFK Vision Plan (2017)
The strategic plan for JFK International Airport and its redevelopment expressed in the JFK Vision Plan addresses issues relating to passenger terminals and cargo facilities as well as the internal circulation and external transportation access roadways. Read Report HERE
An Economic Snapshot of the Greater Jamaica Area (2016)
Prepared by the Office of the State Deputy Comptroller for the City of New York, this profile of southeast Queens provides a framework for understanding the critical connection and interdependence between JFK International Airport, the off-airport GatewayJFK district and the Southeast Queens community. Read Report HERE
JFK Air Cargo Study (2013)
Prepared by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ)
The JFK Air Cargo Study aimed to address cargo and logistics business needs and concerns related to facilities, infrastructure, access, and business development. The study produced an Action Plan Agenda for Air Cargo designed to ensure that future development accommodates growth in cargo tonnage. Read Report HERE
By Sea
GatewayJFK cargo community supports the movement of goods beyond the JFK Airport. The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest U.S. East Coast Containerport and provides unmatched access to one of the largest and most concentrated consumer market in the world, as well as fast access to key inland and northern markets. Learn more about the container terminals at Red Hook-Brooklyn and in New Jersey.
New York and New Jersey airports and ports, along with many international points of entry for both people and goods around the nation work closely with a variety of federal and international agencies. They include, but are not limited to:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (JFK Area)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
U.S. Small Business Administration
Export-Import Bank of the U.S.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Reports and Links
According to the Port Authority of NY & NJ, JFK Airport’s cargo tonnage was 103,096 short tons in January 2022, or a projected 1.25 million short tons at year’s end, ranking it #8 among US airports. This is in contrast to 2000, when JFK Airport cargo tonnage ranked #3 among landed weight at US airports with 1.8 million tons. Maintaining JFK Airport’s market position in the top 10 is challenged by other US airports generating between 2.0 million and 4.7 million in tonnage annually.
Air Traffic Reports
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Air Traffic By the Numbers - May 2022
Air Traffic Report - December 2022
By Land
Roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and rail are a vital connection between New Jersey and New York, and the Nation beyond serving millions of customers a year.
Regional Freight - New York - New Jersey
What is G-MAP?
A comprehensive Goods Movement Action Program for the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Region—is a collaborative program that recognizes the need for more efficient and sustainable freight transportation to maintain the region's national importance as a freight hub and to serve local communities and businesses.
NYSDOT Freight Transportation Plan
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Freight Planning
Industry Organizations
JFK Airport Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association
JFK International Airport Chamber of Commerce
Kennedy Airport Airlines Management Council (KAAMCO)
The New York/New Jersey Foreign Freight Forwarders & Brokers Association
Long Island Import Export Association
National and International
Airports Council International
American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM)
Council of Logistics Engineering Professionals (CLEP)
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)
Fleet Management Association (NAFA)
International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA)
Industry Media
The following is a starting list of supply chain management and logistics publications. The list is intended to be an introduction, not a comprehensive list, to the complex world of trade, supply chain management and logistics industries and operations.
Local-Regional
AirportVoice (New York | New Jersey)
National