Transmissions are moved into the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport cargo hangar after arriving on a Kalitta Air flight from Europe. (Photos courtesy Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport)
It’s the first time GSP’s 1,100-foot runway, built 16 years ago to handle 747s and their cargo, was used for BMW logistics. GSP President and CEO Dave Edwards said the trial run was a success. “It was nothing but positive,” Edwards said.
The flights arrived overnight and the cargo was unloaded for delivery to BMW’s manufacturing facility, just five miles away.
Edwards presented the cargo update today to the GSP Commissioners.
“The last two weeks was successful for us in that it showed BMW we can meet a critical niche to keep their production line moving,” Edwards said.
Moving cars and supplies are most economical by sea. BMW suppliers in the upstate provide real-time delivery of its goods.
BMW’s logistical agency has been steering air deliveries to the manufacturer into Huntsville, Ala., and Atlanta airports.
BMW uses the port of Charleston to sends its X3, X5 and X6 SAVs to destinations around the world. The cars are transported by rail to Charleston.
Edwards asked for the opportunity to show GSP’s runway capabilities and cargo logistics of unloading and preparing the transmissions for delivery to BMW’s production facility.
Additional part-time help was hired by GSP during the operations.
“We’re proud in part to offer logistics options to BMW,” Edwards said.
Edwards has been courting manufacturers to use GSP as a base of operations between Atlanta and Charlotte.