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Wilmington Air Park's future unsure after Amazon exit

THE future is uncertain for the Wilmington Air Park in Clinton County, Ohio, following Amazon's decision to pull the plug on its air cargo pilot project in Wilmington and relocate its air hub to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), where it will invest US$1.4 billion and create 2,700 jobs.

"We're certainly disappointed with their decision," said CEO Joe Hete of ATSG, which provides service and maintenance operations and cargo handling staff for Amazon. "I know that us, the port authority and the state gave it our best shot. We made it as attractive as we could to Amazon."

A press release from Amazon stated, "As we considered places for the long-term home for our air hub operations, Hebron (site of CVG) quickly rose to the top of the list with a large, skilled workforce, centralised location with great connectivity to our nearby fulfilment locations, and an excellent quality of living for employees," said Amazon senior vice president of worldwide operations, Dave Clark.

"We feel strongly that with these qualities as a place to do business, our investments will support Amazon and customers well into the future," the statement was cited as saying in a report by Hillsboro Times Gazette.

"Reports are that Amazon is going to spend $1.4 billion, and if Kentucky is offering $40 million in incentives, that's a small percentage, so I have to think that much of the reason is due to Cincinnati's current cargo operations," Mr Hete added. "People will always speculate about why we didn't get it; I'm not sure what ruled the day."

Mr Hete said the biggest immediate disappointment is having to tell 300 employees, primarily cargo handlers, that they would be losing their jobs. He said most of those employees are full-time.

"We'll re-embark on the journey along with the port to see what additional business we can bring to the air park," said Mr Hete. "I think ATSG remains in a very favourable position long-term and that benefits the air park and the community."

Executive director Dan Evers of the Clinton County Port Authority, which owns the air park, pointed out that in 2010, shortly after DHL's exit from Wilmington, there were just four employers and about 700 employees at the air park. Now, he said, even after the Amazon pilot project is gone, "there are a dozen companies with over 1,300 employees" at the air park and "maintenance operations here are robust."

Mr Hete added ATSG will continue to service existing customers and he expects the operations at Wilmington will grow again, including the possibility that, as Amazon's CVG fleet grows, ATSG would be on the "short list" to service and maintain those planes. "We've proven we have the capabilities," he added.