Realterm Global and Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority Plan 105,000-SF Cargo Facility at Harrisburg International Airport
Realterm Global Global and the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) have announced a strategic partnership to develop a new cargo facility at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Middletown, Pennsylvania, the firms announced July 6. The planned development would deliver up to 105,000 square feet of first-line cargo space designed for single or multi-tenant operations.
The announcement positions MDT — which processed more than 55,000 tons of cargo in 2025, according to Airports Council International World data cited by Realterm — as a growing logistics node for Central Pennsylvania and the broader Mid-Atlantic region. Approximately 35 percent of the U.S. population lives within a six-hour drive of the airport, according to the firms.
Facility Design and Specifications
The planned facility would sit directly adjacent to the airfield apron, allowing aircraft to park at the building's doors and enabling cargo to move directly from plane to warehouse. The design includes eight airside drive-in doors, 40 landside loading dock doors and more than 180 vehicle parking spaces.
The building would feature a 150-foot-deep airside footprint paired with a 135-foot truck court, with dedicated emergency access routes. The facility is designed to be divisible for up to four tenants or configurable for a single operator.
The project will be developed to LEED-certified standards, incorporating skylights, motion-sensor LED lighting, EV-ready infrastructure and an engineered slab capable of supporting specialized cargo needs including cooler spaces, floor scales and pallet lifts, the firms said.
Airport Infrastructure and Regional Context
The new development builds on a recently completed $60 million expansion of MDT's airside cargo apron. Timothy J. Edwards, executive director of the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, cited that investment in a statement accompanying the announcement.
"MDT recently completed a $60 million expansion of our airside cargo apron and we are truly excited about the partnership with Realterm and the prospect of a new state-of-the-art modern air cargo facility which will complement that infrastructure investment," Edwards said.
Harrisburg International Airport has highway access to Baltimore, approximately 85 miles away; Philadelphia, approximately 100 miles away; Washington, D.C., approximately 125 miles away; and New York City, approximately 175 miles away. The region has recently attracted major investment from companies including UPS, Bayer and Coca-Cola, according to the firms.
Realterm's Airport Infrastructure Portfolio
Realterm, headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, describes itself as an independent global investment manager focused on the transportation industry with more than 30 years of experience in airport and terminal support infrastructure. The firm's portfolio spans approximately 22 million square feet across 40 airports worldwide, encompassing cargo, flight kitchen, ground support equipment and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
Recent projects cited by Realterm include a $270 million cargo facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport, developed in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which the firm describes as the first new cargo facility at JFK in two decades. Realterm also developed the Northeast Cargo Campus at O'Hare International Airport, encompassing 900,000 square feet and supporting approximately 2,200 on-site cargo jobs.
Jennifer Carter, senior vice president of airport affairs at Realterm, pointed to MDT's regional position as a driver of the project. "The airport's strategic location at the heart of Central Pennsylvania, serving a region that has attracted major investment from global companies, makes MDT the natural choice for operators looking for a competitive advantage in the Mid-Atlantic," Carter said.
Alexi Lachambre, senior vice president of investments and airport infrastructure at Realterm, described the site's development characteristics. "This is a rare opportunity in today's market — a readily developable first-line site served by a newly constructed aircraft ramp in a strategic U.S. distribution location," Lachambre said.
Deal Structure and Next Steps
The partnership between Realterm Global and the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority is structured as a joint venture. No development budget, transaction price or construction timeline has been disclosed. The ultimate building design will be customizable based on tenant operational needs, the firms said.
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