The C$36m facility includes a new building with cold storage spaces, cargo processing facilities and offices, which have been leased to tenants Cargojet and First Catch Fisheries, and five parking spaces for cargo aircraft were constructed alongside the building.
Funding was announced in 2018 by the Government of Canada, which contributed C$18m through the National Trade Corridors Fund.
The Government of Nova Scotia contributed C$5m and airport operator Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) provided C$13m.
To open the facility, HIAA representatives were joined by the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, the Honourable Steve Craig, Nova Scotia Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and MLA for Sackville – Cobequid, Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality, air cargo tenants, cargo logistics chain partners, and other stakeholders.
The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, says, “The new Air Cargo Logistics Park is an important addition to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport that will help to make both the Airport and Nova Scotia more competitive. It will enhance trade and expand our capacity to foster exports. The Government of Nova Scotia is proud to have contributed our financial support to this project.”
Joyce Carter, President and CEO of HIAA, adds, “Today’s milestone would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our government and business partners who helped make our vision for the Halifax Stanfield Air Cargo Logistics Park become a reality, even while navigating a global pandemic. We look forward to continuing to accelerate the growth of our communities by connecting Atlantic businesses and goods to the world.”
In 2021, 34,769 tonnes of cargo, valued at C$496m was processed at the airport, and according to the latest Halifax Stanfield economic impact report, exports contributed C$664m to the provincial economy in 2020.