Airglades International Airport

Airglades International Airport is a proposed airport development project located on the site of the existing county-owned Airglades Airport, in Clewiston, Florida. It is proposed that the site be developed into an integrated freight logistics hub to capitalise on the trade in cut flowers, fish and other perishables flowing between the US and Central and South America. Currently, this is all channelled through Miami International Airport. The project is jointly owned by three parties: Florida Fresh Produce (49%) (aka Florida Cargo Fresh); while the remaining 51% is split between US Sugar Corporation and Hilliard Brothers, a diversified agricultural operation. The airport is planned to feature a 4000m runway, reportedly costing USD400 million.

Mar-2020. Airglades International Airport commenced construction of a new US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility to replace the airport's general aviation terminal. The USD2.1 million, 4000sqft facility will enable the airport to be designated as an official port of entry to the US.

Aug-2019. Airglades International Airport announced the following developments in the project to develop a new cargo and perishable goods airport at the general aviation Airglades Airport in South Florida:

• The US FAA deemed Airglades International's application under the airport investment partnership programme to be "substantially complete";
• Airglades International and Hendry County selected AvPORTS as the airport operator and Star America as a private investor and equity partner.

Dec-2016. Airglades International Airport president Fred Ford said a final environmental assessment for the Airglades cargo airport project is expected to be submitted by the end of 2016 and may be approved by the US FAA by Mar-2017 or during 2Q2017. Construction may commence in 2018 and the airport may be operational by 2020, with plans to construct a new 3050m runway and parallel taxiway at a cost of USD200 million and develop a handling facility of up to 93,000sqm. The total cost of the project is expected to reach USD460 million. The airport will feature facilities for perishable cargo, including agricultural products from Latin America. Mr Ford expects the airport to support cargo operations as Miami International Airport approaches capacity. The airport may secure US Government funding for runway construction and is likely to source additional funds from tax-exempt revenue bonds.