Philadelphia Airport’s shipping center is on overload this holiday season, writes Michaela Winberg for billypenn.com.

The scene is best described as “controlled chaos.” Forklifts weave around thousands of cargo workers in the 400,000 square foot facility.

“It can be a little crazy at times,” admitted Brian Cooley, GM of cargo service at Philly’s American Airlines hub. “Different seasons have different types of peaks, and the Christmas peak is like every type of peak combined.”

In December, cargo carriers see about 40 percent more traffic, Cooley said.

Unfortunately, the airport’s cargo warehouse can’t currently handle the capacity when it gets holiday busy.

The airport is planning a new shipping facility in September 2021, expanding cargo operations 13 times.

Philly has the potential to get cargo business from anywhere within a six-state 500-mile radius, said Jim Tyrrell, the airport’s chief revenue office.

But it’s only capturing about 9 percent of that business.

PHL’s new facility will be built about a mile west of the existing one. The first phase of construction will cost the airport $250 million, but Tyrell estimates it has the potential to capture at least 10 percent more of the market — which adds up to $5 billion annually.

Read more about cargo plans at the airport here.

[uam_ad id=”62465″]