UPS to expand and modernize express package capacity at Kansas Airport

The City of Kansas City, Missouri Aviation Department has now approved lease agreements to allow UPS to expand and modernize its express package sorting capacity at Kansas City International Airport.

Through City Council approval, the Aviation Department extended the lease with Aeroterm another 30 years, which provides its tenant UPS the opportunity to significantly expand its operation at the airport. UPS also anticipates hiring about 60 new employees to help sort packages once the project is complete.

The expansion includes a 53,400 sq m aircraft apron with enough space to simultaneously park five wide-body cargo jets and a complete renovation of the existing 5,000 sq m sorting facility. New state-of-the-art sorting equipment will increase package handling capacity from 1,500 to 5,000 packages per hour.

“Demand for shipping, primarily due to e-commerce, is continuing to grow. We need the additional capacity to continue providing outstanding service to customers in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas,” UPS Central Plains District president Darren Jones said.

“Expedited transportation in the Kansas City region dates back to the Pony Express days in the 1800s,” said Kansas City director of aviation Pat Klein. “Our central US location continues to be key for air freight operations. We have long been a partner of UPS and are thrilled with their upcoming expansion.”

UPS launched air operations from Kansas City International in 1986 and now operates six flights per day. UPS leases the facility from Aeroterm, and the parties have also agreed to an extension of the lease to facilitate the expansion.

“We are proud to partner with UPS to help facilitate this exciting and high-profile cargo infrastructure project which enhances the airport’s air cargo sector with improved cargo processing efficiency,” said Aeroterm vice president of investments & development Greg Russell. “We look forward to our continued partnership with UPS and the Kansas City Aviation Department to support the growing cargo demands at Kansas City International Airport.”

Construction is set to begin later this year with completion in late 2021.