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FOR REGION'S AIRPORTS,
THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN
THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
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By Holly O'Brien
With 2.6 million people and nearly 70,000 businesses, it’s no surprise
that the St. Louis region has diverse aviation needs. Although Lambert–St.
Louis International Airport is the primary “people mover” in the
area handling over 20 million passengers last year, there are also
four regional airports providing support for cargo operations, corporate
and general aviation, and many other aspects of flying.
Far from being direct competitors with each other, these airports–Spirit
of St. Louis, St. Louis Downtown, St. Louis Regional, and MidAmerica
St. Louis–complement each other as they serve the region’s diverse
and changing aviation needs.
Spirit of St. Louis is home to over 400 aircraft–125 of which are
corporate jets. Located in Chesterfield, the airport is an attractive
starting and ending point for traveling executives who live in St.
Louis or St. Charles counties. Some of the businesses which base
their corporate aircraft at Spirit include Anheuser-Busch Cos.,
Monsanto Co., Nestlé-Purina Petcare Co., and Emerson. To facilitate
international travel, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
established a presence at Spirit three years ago.
“I am part real estate developer, part airport director,” says Richard
E. Hrabko, airport director of Spirit and director of aviation for
St. Louis County. “Prior to the 1990s, 65 percent of Spirit’s profits
were derived from fuel sales, and 35 percent from leasing. But today,
the inverse is true.” Hrabko says the turnaround is good news for
the long-term future of Spirit, because land prices are more stable
than fuel.
In Illinois, St. Louis Downtown is home to the flying portion of
Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering and Aviation,
making it a top civilian training base in the Midwest. But because
of its close proximity to downtown St. Louis, the airport is also
a favorite for visiting politicians, executives and performers.
Located near Cahokia, Ill., Airport Director Robert L. McDaniel
says his airport’s top marketing advantage is being only seven minutes
from the Gateway Arch.
Farther north in Bethalto, Ill., St. Louis Regional’s niche is also
the business traveler–but with a slight twist. Many executives who
land at Regional will stay on the Illinois part of the region. “There
are things [happening] on both sides of the River,” says David C.
Miller, airport manager. For example, Hershey Foods Corp. and Procter
& Gamble Co. have major warehousing and distribution facilities
at the 2,700-acre Gateway Commerce Center in Madison County, Ill.
But for those who have business in downtown St. Louis, Miller says
the ongoing improvements to Interstate 255 will cut the travel time
from the airport to the Arch to less than 25 minutes.
St. Louis Regional’s niche is the business traveler. |
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At MidAmerica, Airport Director M. Tim Cantwell has a much different
charge. Located seven miles east of Belleville, Ill., MidAmerica
is a joint-use airport, sharing airspace and air traffic control
facilities with Scott Air Force Base.
The 6-year-old airport has an 8,000-foot runway and a 10,000-foot
runway, both with 16-inch depth. This makes MidAmerica the only
area airport other than Lambert able to accommodate heavy aircraft
used by passenger airliners and national and international cargo
fleets. MidAmerica currently has a Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) certificate, and will become an official port of entry later
this year.
With a 53,000-square-foot ultra-modern passenger terminal, MidAmerica
is capable of handling millions of passengers. But, Cantwell’s main
priority is developing the airport as a national and international
cargo hub.
Pointing to a map of truck routes within the U.S.–filled with red
lines radiating to and from St. Louis–he says, “Of all the land,
sea and air cargo in the world, only 2 percent by weight flies,
but it represents 40 percent of the total value. Consider coal going
across the country on rail cars–low value, high volume. But you’re
not going to put diamonds or perishables on a boat or train. Goods
with economic and physical perishability represent the greatest
value.”
His initial international cargo target is the international flower
industry. Miami currently enjoys a near monopoly on flowers entering
the U.S., but the transit time to the final destination could be
significantly reduced with St. Louis as a point of entry, Cantwell
says. This October, MidAmerica will open a 17-acre, 50,000-square-foot
cargo facility, which will be fully operational in March 2005.
“What we are trying to do as a region,” Cantwell says, “is to get
businesses multiplied by airports to enhance the economy. Airports
don’t merely add to business; rather airports, times business, equals
economic growth.”
McDaniel agrees. “Aviation is both an enabler and a beneficiary
of a vital economy,” he says. “The regional airports have the dual
responsibility of promoting the region and running their operations.”
At Regional, Miller sums up everything by saying, “There’s a synergy
effect when all the airports work together to make the entire region
successful.”
Airport Quick Facts
Holly O’Brien is a freelance writer based in St. Louis.
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