First livestock shipment of 2021 continues new cargo trend at STL

Airport seeking to become a preferred place to ship in the Midwest

ST. LOUIS (Feb. 11, 2021): In 2020, air cargo operations at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) rose by 16.5 percent. Today, that momentum continues with a second shipment of livestock. 

This morning, more than 150 breeding pigs departed STL for Viracopos International Airport located near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The pigs left the airport aboard a Boeing 747-400F. This follows a similar shipment of 200 breeding pigs that left STL in November.

“STL is seeking to become an effective and preferred animal embarkation point in the Midwest and this cargo flight moves us one step forward,” said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, STL Director. “Seven years ago, this effort was initiated by STL, along with our air cargo consultant and the Midwest Cargo Hub Commission. Today, that work is seeing results.”

STL is working with multiple operators throughout the Midwest to use its Export Inspection Facility, approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as an efficient and affordable option to ship their livestock. More shipments are being planned throughout 2021.

This comes at a time when air cargo operations at STL continue to perform well. In 2020, STL’s total cargo numbers grew to just under 185,000,000 pounds – a one-year increase of just over 26 million pounds or 16.5 percent. This is the fifth straight year of increasing cargo totals with two years having double-digit increases.

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Photo by: Annie Flodin