Realterm and the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority have entered into a strategic partnership to pursue a new cargo development at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). The planned project calls for a modern, flexible air cargo facility that will provide up to 105,000 square feet of first-line space that can be configured for either a single user or multiple tenants. The concept is focused on accommodating a range of operational needs while maintaining direct access to the airfield.
The airport already plays a meaningful role in goods movement for Central Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region, processing more than 55,000 tons of cargo in 2025. That activity underpins MDT’s position as a key logistics node in a broader industrial corridor that has drawn recent investment from companies such as UPS, Bayer and Coca-Cola. The new facility is intended to build on that freight platform by adding purpose-built space adjacent to airside infrastructure.
According to the announcement, the cargo building will be situated directly next to the airfield apron, allowing for efficient aircraft-to-warehouse transfers. The project is being designed so that it can function as a dedicated hub for a single operator or be subdivided to accommodate up to four tenants. At full build-out, the facility is expected to deliver the entire 105,000 square feet as warehouse space, giving users on-airport access to modern industrial product.
The cargo initiative follows recent infrastructure work at MDT. Timothy Edwards of the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority noted that the airport recently completed a $60 million expansion of its airside cargo apron. He described the proposed Realterm partnership and planned facility as a complement to that investment, highlighting how additional building capacity could leverage the expanded apron area. The pairing of new apron space with a contemporary cargo facility is aimed at strengthening MDT’s logistics capabilities and supporting continued cargo throughput at the airport.
While specific development timelines, project costs and tenant commitments were not disclosed, the planned facility underscores ongoing interest in air cargo-related industrial space at MDT. For the airport authority and Realterm, the next phase of work is expected to focus on advancing the building program, refining the multi-tenant layout options and aligning the facility’s design with the operational needs of prospective cargo users that rely on Harrisburg International Airport as part of their regional distribution networks.
