DHL Express is to be the primary lease holder at Calgary International Airport’s (YYC) new cargo facility – spread over 100,000 square feet.

YYC says it continues to deliver on its mission to be a key driver of economic diversity for the region, with the announcement of DHL, to be the initial, anchor tenant in its newest cargo and logistics development.

Phase II of YYC’s Cargo Facility will add approximately 100,000 square feet of warehouse space at YYC, raising space to more than 3.2 million square feet – part of YYC’s focused Global Logistics Park activities.

DHL Express will expand its current facilities at YYC, taking almost 38,000 square feet of space – nearly tripling the size of its operation at YYC.

DHL Express Canada chief executive officer, Andrew Williams says: “This investment in our Calgary facility is being made to support current growth, but also the significant mid- to long-term potential we see in international express volumes to and from Alberta.”

YYC broke ground on the new cargo facility in March 2015, and will open the facility later this year. It will have direct access to the new 520,000 square foot cargo apron expansion YYC opened in 2015.

YYC is the main air cargo gateway in the province of Alberta. In 2015, air cargo transported through YYC rose to 134,695 tonnes, which represents more than three-quarters of all air cargo moved in the province.

Calgary Airport Authority senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Stephan Poirier says: “We welcome DHL’s investment in the Calgary and Alberta region. DHL Express is one of the largest logistics distribution and freight companies in the world and we are proud that they’ve selected YYC as a location of choice to continue to grow their business.

“We offer some of the best cargo infrastructure in the country, which allows our airline partners to reach global markets efficiently, and ensures Albertans can continue to seamlessly access the world from Calgary.”