Lakeland Linder International Airport Moves Up to No.3 in Florida for Cargo Operations
Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) has passed Tampa International Airport in the state ranking for cargo flowing through 10 airports. It now sits at No. 3 behind Miami and Orlando international airports, respectively.
Lakeland Linder International Airport Director Kris Hallstrand thinks the airport can pass Orlando within the next few years. It needs only 127 million pounds of cargo to do that. “We’re doing good with cargo. We’re healthy,” Hallstrand said.
“My goal is to figure out how to become No. 2 in the state. We’re supporting our partners and working on the future growth of the airport.”
The top four airports for cargo in Florida:
- Miami- 11,466,632,402 lbs
- Orlando- 1,030,557,430 lbs
- Lakeland- 903,293,000 lbs
- Tampa- 816,186,930 lbs
Further Accomplishments
Along with their new cargo ranking, Lakeland Linder also ranks 32nd in the country out of 151 cargo-reporting airports.
Much of the airport’s growth in cargo came from Amazon Air’s move to Lakeland in 2019. It opened its air cargo facility in 2020 there and is now almost completely out of Tampa, averaging 11 daily departures each day in Lakeland.
“LAL’s ramp expansion enabled more airplanes to operate at the facility. It’s given us the ability to maximize space over there for Amazon to process packages — truck to plane and plane to truck,” Hallstrand said. “We serve Polk County and Central Florida, and this shows the population growth and the shift to e-commerce.”
LAL is one of Amazon Air’s six regional air hubs in the country.
Diversity In Operations
“Having robust cargo operations at our airport helps insulate us from harmful factors that could cripple an operation based primarily on a single industry, much like COVID decimated passenger services during the pandemic,” said Shawn Sherrouse, Lakeland City Manager. “Diverse operations lessen the negative impacts of difficult times experienced in a single industry. Air cargo provides diversity of operations and an almost limitless spectrum of goods to be transported. Our growth to the third-largest airport cargo operation in Florida ensures the continued economic benefit the airport provides for our community.”
Hallstrand also pointed to the diversity in operations beyond cargo, which has led to the overall health of the airport. A few operating partners of LAL include:
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), which oversees the Hurricane Hunters
- Draken International, an American provider of tactical fighter aircraft for contract air services, including military and defense industry customers
- Avelo Airlines, commercial passenger service
- 5 Aviation schools
“With all of these together, that’s how we maintain our health,” she said. “If one piece takes a hit, we have the others to carry us and keep us in business.”
Future Development
Amazon leases about 60 acres from the airport, which totals 1,774 acres.
“That doesn’t mean we have a lot of space available,” Hallstrand said. “Parcels are available, but they are broken up. We brought some leases forward to the City Commission but the low-hanging fruit is gone. Now we must develop sites for future development. That includes bringing utilities out to the sites, giving those sites access into landside and airport operations areas, and providing access for people to get to them but not inside the airport fence for security purposes. We also need to improve airport structures like taxiways.”
Servicing the Community
Hallstrand said the airport administration’s goals include “trying to provide the jobs and opportunities that suit the Polk County and Central Florida community.”
“I want us to be the best we can be,” she said. “What that looks like evolves with time. I look at what Tampa is doing with their $1.5 billion terminal expansion. I’m happy for them, but I don’t need to do that because they are doing it. We are trying to serve our area; all airports bring different value. With the population growth between Tampa and Orlando, we have a role to play in the region. Working toward that has caused this airport to grow rapidly.”
Polk County’s population has increased from 725,046 in the 2020 Census to the World Population Review’s estimated 818,330 in July 2023.
“The hardest part is to keep our identity, which centers around SUN ‘n FUN, our educational programs, the flight schools and colleges, NOAA, and all our general aviation tenants that occupy space owned or rented by us. Cargo is a component that was very helpful to the airport for sustainability and revenue.
“We operate as a branch of government but also as a business. Serving the community is how we will be successful. We’re going to be us and we’re going to be good at it.”
Lakeland International Airport continues to grow while remaining focused on meeting the needs of the community and staying firm to its roots.
