Air cargo carrier operations are expanding at McCarran

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 11:01 a.m.

A Canadian company that contracts with air cargo carriers in Las Vegas plans to expand its operation with the construction of two new buildings in the next year.

Wayne Duzita, senior vice president and a partner with International Aviation Terminals, Vancouver, British Columbia, said his company is building a 40,000-square-foot facility to accommodate an expansion by Federal Express.

At the end of the year or early next year, the company also will add a ground services equipment building. That 30,000-square-foot facility would house equipment that moves cargo and it will have repair bays for minor servicing.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Federal Express isn't confirming any deal with International Aviation Terminals (IAT), but Clark Miller, senior manager for ground operations for FedEx in Las Vegas, said the company's local operations have grown 20 percent year over year through the 1990s.

He said the company is looking into moving into a larger building that would provide more ramp space for the nation's largest private cargo carrier.

The local convention industry drives the cargo market for FedEx, which varies the size and number of planes it flies into Las Vegas daily based on the volume of cargo -- like convention exhibits -- it is bringing to the city.

Usually, the company uses twin-engine Airbus A310 jets on flights to and from the city. When big conventions, like Comdex, come to the city, FedEx will schedule larger planes, like a DC-10 jumbo jet, or multiple aircraft to haul exhibits and equipment to the city.

FedEx recently began flying the quieter Airbus aircraft into Reno, solving a growing noise abatement problem for that city. Cargo aircraft usually do most of their flying at night.

Meanwhile, Duzita said negotiations are under way to attract another cargo company he would not name. He said if his company is successful in its efforts, it would build a 100,000-square-foot building in 2001 that would be occupied by spring 2002.

IAT decided to focus its American operations in Nevada, Duzita said, because management identified it as "a tremendous growth opportunity." The company operates warehouses in Reno as well as Las Vegas.

The company's Las Vegas operations are on McCarran International Airport land at Spencer Road.

IAT began operations in Las Vegas in 1992 when it won a McCarran bid to service cargo operations. Duzita said the company quickly outgrew its 10-year growth plan. Air cargo business was accelerated by the continuing growth of the convention and trade show business in Las Vegas, Duzita said. In addition, as the resort industry grew in the 1990s, demand increased for quick delivery of documents, paper and flowers.

The company has contracts for storage and cargo delivery services with several companies including United Parcel Service, Airborne Express, TWA, Southwest Airlines, Eagle USA Airfreight, D & N Delivery Services and America West Airlines.

Duzita said several companies would be moved into the planned new building and Federal Express would take over all of the 40,000-square-foot facility built in 1995.

IAT is the leading provisioner in Canada, operating facilities for warehousing, office space and flight kitchens at airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Saskatoon.