Realterm, SARAA partner on cargo facility at Harrisburg Airport

Realterm and the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) have announced a strategic partnership to develop a new cargo facility at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Pennsylvania.

The planned development will provide up to 105,000 square feet of first-line cargo space and is designed to support either single-tenant or multi-tenant operations.

Jennifer Carter, Senior Vice President, Airport Affairs at Realterm, said the project supports MDT’s long-term cargo growth plans. She said the airport’s location in Central Pennsylvania makes it an attractive option for operators seeking a competitive advantage in the Mid-Atlantic region.

According to Airports Council International (ACI) World, MDT processed more than 55,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025. The airport is located within a six-hour drive of about 35% of the US population and serves a region that has recently attracted investment from companies including UPS, Bayer and Coca-Cola.

Alexi Lachambre, Senior Vice President, Investments, Airport Infrastructure at Realterm, said the project reflects the strength of Realterm’s partnership with SARAA and addresses what the company sees as significant untapped demand at MDT.

The facility will be built adjacent to the airfield apron, allowing aircraft to park directly at the building and enabling cargo to move directly between aircraft and warehouse space.

The design can be customised according to tenant requirements. It could accommodate a single operator or be divided for up to four tenants. Planned features include up to 105,000 square feet of warehouse space, eight airside drive-in doors, 40 landside loading dock doors and more than 180 vehicle parking spaces.

The development will also include a 150-foot deep airside footprint and a 135-foot truck court to support loading operations and truck movement. The building is planned to meet LEED-certified standards and will include skylights, motion-sensor LED lighting, EV-ready infrastructure and an engineered slab suitable for specialised cargo requirements such as cooler spaces, floor scales and pallet lifts.

Timothy J. Edwards, Executive Director of SARAA, said MDT recently completed a $60 million expansion of its airside cargo apron and welcomed the partnership with Realterm as a complement to that investment.

Harrisburg International Airport serves a broad regional catchment area, with road access to Central Pennsylvania as well as nearby markets including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Realterm manages airport infrastructure assets worldwide and has a portfolio of approximately 22 million square feet across 40 airports, including cargo facilities, flight kitchens, ground support equipment facilities and maintenance, repair and overhaul sites.