BARI – An integrated logistics hub for the development of air freight transport  will soon start up at the Taranto Grottaglie airport. Goal: to satisfy the natural vocation of “Marcello Arlotta”, classified by the National Airports Plan as an airport of national interest dedicated to perform functions of integrated logistic platform to support industrial research and development. As part of the Apulian airport network, in fact, the Taranto Grottaglie airport plays a preminent cargo-logistics function, as well as being an example of the international spirit of integration between air transport and the aerospace industry. The integrated logistics hub for the development of Air Cargo, whose works will start next January, will also be equipped with cold rooms and will aim at the development of services connected to the “cold chain” and full cargo flights (freight only) with connections also direct with the source / destination areas of cargo traffic.

“The construction of the logistic hub at Taranto Grottaglie airport – the vice president of Aeroporti di Puglia, Antonio Maria Vasile sasys in a statement – meets the requests for development of the territory made in recent months by the business world, not only Apulian. We have tried, together with the shareholder, to satisfy demand with a view to integrated and connected growth, convinced of the fact that the synergistic work of all the players is the key to restarting. The territory needs input and never as in this moment is it appropriate to put our airport infrastructure at the service of the Taranto and Apulian communities. Taranto Grottaglie airport wants to be a center of innovation and development, as well as a hub where research and business meet at the service of the territory “.

“The Grottaglie airport has different vocations and many potentials – said Alessandro Delli Noci, Councilor for economic development of the Puglia Region -. For this reason, the construction of the logistic hub is good news because it responds to one of the vocations of the “Marcello Arlotta”, namely that of being an integrated logistic platform to support industrial research and development. This is a major business initiative that looks at the growth of the area in question but I would say the whole of Puglia.

The entrepreneurial initiative represents the effective implementation of ENAC – National Body for the Civil Aviation –  and of Puglia Region guidelines, with the aim of creating an integrated logistic center between the Port of Taranto and Taranto Grottaglie Airport, within the ZES Jonica (Special Economic Zone) and the Customs Free Zone, with the implications in terms of intermodality Port /

Airport, as well as the Integrated Logistics Area of ​​the Apulian – Lucanian and southern system. This will determine the possibility of benefiting from the economic and procedural facilitations provided for the establishment of companies, seizing the opportunities deriving from the strategic positioning of the Taranto area in the context of the traffic that must reach Northern Europe from the Far East. The above also in consideration of the development of the BRI (Belt & Road Initiative) and of the so-called “Silk Road”: in fact, when fully operational, direct connections will be activated with China, Russia, United States, as well as connections with hubs international cargoes – Liège, Dubai, Istanbul, Doha, Paris Orly -.

“We are very satisfied that Aeroporti di Puglia has shared our air cargo development project presented in 2021, certain that this initiative will be a stimulus for the southern manufacturing world – declared Stefano Cavicchia, Managing Director of Gesfa. The Grottaglie Airport, already famous among industry insiders around the world, will now also be able to compete with other airports in the field of logistics. In 2022 we plan to complete the investment, which will in any case be gradual and flexible, and to define some partnerships with other parties interested in the growth of the initiative. When fully operational, the Logistics Center will have a warehouse for temporary storage and will guarantee all the necessary operations to allow the goods to transit safely, guaranteeing the conservation of the required quality”.