Cargo’s Economic Impact Ripples Through the Region
More flights bring work for truckers, warehouse workers, logistics teams
By Bob Kerlik
Published November 16, 2020
Read Time: 4 mins
In September, when Cathay Pacific Airways touched down for the first time at Pittsburgh International Airport bringing international cargo service back to the region, the plane brought more than just boxes.
Cargo service carries huge economic benefits for regions like Western Pennsylvania because of the downstream economic impact, including trucking and handling companies.
“If you get a steady flow of cargo like we have with these Cathay flights, it’s massive because it’s not just the airport,” said Nate Hankinson, president of Pittsburgh-based NJH Consulting, which focuses on supply chain and logistics. “It’s the truckers, the ground handlers, the extended trucking network and everyone that works at these places.”
Companies like Dandy Service Corp., an Allegheny County-based trucking company, don’t normally carry air freight, but the work has been good for the company, said president Dan Lang.
Lang said he hopes the business leads to even bigger and better things at the airport, which in turn, means more business for the region.
“All of our drivers are domiciled here. The truck line is based here,” he said. “So yes, it is helping. We’d like to see it continue to grow.”
Cargo has become a bigger part of PIT’s business plan as officials look to build the airport into an international logistics center, capitalizing on its abundant space and ideal geographic location. That has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as passenger service has plummeted.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific committed to 20 scheduled cargo flights in partnership with freight forwarder Unique Logistics International. The flights will run through November.
Over the last few months, National Airlines landed five FEMA charter flights at PIT carrying critical medical supplies from South Korea via a refueling stop in Anchorage. Qatar Airways Cargo served PIT for two years with twice-weekly international freighter service until suspending the operation in December amid weakening global cargo demand stemming from international trade tensions.

A National Airlines Boeing 747 cargo flight arrives at Pittsburgh International on May 27, carrying 2 million masks to be used in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Officials hope to secure more cargo service in the coming months.
Using economic impact modeling, airport officials estimate the Cathay Pacific flights alone will generate $16 million in direct and indirect economic impact for the region and support 48 jobs. During the two years Qatar Airways flew to PIT, a 2018 study performed by EDRG found an economic impact of $42.8 million while supporting more than 200 jobs within the region.
Companies associated with air cargo often look to cluster their facilities near cargo gateway airports, creating a larger ecosystem that continues to build with additional jobs and development, PIT officials said.