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For Immediate Release

Oct. 1, 1996
Contact:
Jack Taylor, 512-476-7696
Jamy Kazanoff, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 512-369-6681

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) took a step toward initial operation today, as Austin CargoPort Development broke ground for the airport's new $20 million air cargo facility. A large crowd of Austin area community leaders and school children watched as CargoPort officials and a host of dignitaries officially kicked off the 8-month construction project.

When completed in the spring of 1997, the 155,000 sq. ft. facility will be the site of initial operations at ABIA. Air cargo activity is expected to precede passenger service at the airport by about two years.

"We have been looking forward to this day for a long time," said CargoPort Partner Alan Graham. "We are excited to begin construction of a state-of-the-art cargo facility for our tenants, local manufacturers, and for the entire Austin community. Clearly this facility will raise the economy of the entire region."

Event participants included U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Mayor Bruce Todd, Former U.S. Rep Jake Pickle and former Austin Mayor Roy Butler.

CargoPort announced last month that FedEx, Airborne Express and Burlington Air Express will be the inaugural air cargo tenants at ABIA. The three carriers have pre-leased a combined 140,000 sq. ft. of air cargo space from CargoPort. Approximately 15,000 sq. ft. will be available for other carriers, a well as for service related to the carriers.

When completed, the air cargo facilities will significantly expand Austin's ability to accommodate air cargo activity. Cargo activity at the current Robert Mueller Municipal Airport has grown a cumulative 14 percent from 1993 to 1996, with warehouse space at the airport remaining at its capacity of 43,000 sq. ft.

"Our facility will help meet the growing demand for air cargo space in Austin immediately upon completion," said Graham. "We have room for expansion of up to 245,000 sq. ft. of additional space."

"We are glad that CargoPort will be a key player in getting operation at the new airport off the ground," said CargoPort's Ray Brimble. "Today's ceremony marks a new era of aviation in Austin."

The construction team of Hensel Phelps Construction Company and Graeber Simmons & Cowan Inc. Will build the new facilities.

City council awarded the rights to develop air cargo facilities at ABIA to Austin CargoPort Development in July of 1995. The CargoPort team is lead by Brimble, a international business expert and Graham, a community leader and real estate businessman. Other CargoPort team members include Austin financier Lowell Lebermann, community leader Pete Winstead of the law firm of Winstead, Sechrest & Minick, P.C., and international entrepreneur Walter DeRoeck.

Graham and Brimble are also the founders of the Lynxs Group, a real estate development company that specializes in on-airport distribution facilities. The Lynxs Group was incorporated earlier this year.

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