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State and local officials were on hand for an April 4 party Seagis Property Group and United Airlines held to celebrate the debut of a new, state-of-the-art cargo facility at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Located at 100 Frontage Road in Newark, the 165,000-square-foot United Cargo facility is a short drive from the airport. According to the airline, the new building enhances its ability to run a competitive regional cargo operation. The industrial project increases United’s local cargo availability by more than 77,000 square feet in facility space, according to an announcement from the carrier. Overall, it brings total cargo space at the airport to 319,000 square feet.

United said its cargo operation supports more than $450 million in annual revenue. By 2026, the airline expects a 15%-20% increase in tonnage; by 2030, projections anticipate a 30% uptick.

The carrier underscored the importance of the Essex County facility. According to executives, EWR represents nearly 30% of the company’s global tonnage and revenue. Over the next 10-20 years, United said it has ambitious growth plans in Newark, among them to fly more widebody aircraft.

Taking off

“I’m very proud to be here for such a momentous occasion,” Mike Hanna, senior vice president of airport operations, United, said during the event. “This investment in EWR is incredibly important because it’s such a critical hub for us across the network.

“It’s not only one of our most important hubs, but a gateway to the world as we serve 61 international destinations,” Hanna continued. “As one of the largest employers in New Jersey, we want to invest in the fabric of the community — making sure we partner with local companies across the tristate area. We’re continuing to make great investments in this hub as the New Jersey hometown airline.”

According to Seagis, the building was originally constructed in 1959. The Conshohocken, Pa.-based firm acquired the property in 2019.

“We want to make sure that companies come here to stay here, and it’s obvious that United chose this facility because they want to be here and grow,” said City of Newark Business Administrator Eric Pennington. “One of the things that I’m most proud of with our partnership is every time United makes improvements to anything, they work hard to make sure that the people of Newark are part of that process — something we’re very grateful for.”

Last week, NAIOP New Jersey named the Seagis/United project a finalist by for industrial Deal of the Year.