SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 25, 2026— Aviation Facilities Company (AFCO), a leading U.S. airport infrastructure and airport facilities development firm, has entered a long-term ground lease with the Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) for a new cargo facility in a public-private partnership at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Under the proposed structure, AFCO will develop, lease, and manage a state-of-the-art, multi-tenant cargo facility spanning both airside and landside operations.
AFCO was selected as preferred bidder for the project in the first half of 2025 following a competitive procurement process that began in October 2024, when SLCDA issued a request for proposals. The project, currently estimated at a cost exceeding $50 million, will be further refined as it progresses toward final planning targeted for the second half of 2026.
AFCO plans to enter one to four sub-tenant leases for a total of approximately 150,000 square feet of cargo space, with lease terms ranging from 5 to 10 years. The facility will include accommodation for e-commerce and general cargo as well as temperature-controlled cold-chain capabilities for pharmaceuticals and perishable goods, that will have immediately available aircraft parking positions and easy access to the airfield. The project will modernize cargo infrastructure at SLC, support long-term growth in air freight demand, and strengthen Salt Lake City’s role as a regional gateway for imports and exports, while generating a new long-term revenue stream for the airport authority.
“Salt Lake is uniquely positioned in the west to absorb a lot of cargo that has historically gone to the U.S. coasts and been trucked or railed inland,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director, SLCDA. “This new facility will allow us to concentrate all that activity in one place with easy access to the airfield, which is critically important. The partnership with AFCO will benefit not only Utah, but the entire Mountain West.”
“We’re proud and honored to be working with the Salt Lake City airport and the Utah Inland Port Authority on this critical infrastructure project at the airport,” said AFCO President and CEO Chuck Stipancic. “We look forward to working hand in hand with such great partners towards our common goal of increasing air cargo capacity and traffic at the airport that will drive new investment, jobs and economic benefits at SLC, the region and the entire state.”
About AFCO
AFCO is a recognized industry leader in on-airport facility investment, development, financing, leasing, and asset management throughout the U.S. AFCO offers best-in-class capabilities, unparalleled financial capacity, and nearly three decades of delivering value to its clients, which include airports, municipalities, commercial and cargo airlines, general aviation, and a wide variety of other airport users. AFCO was acquired by Ardian Infrastructure in March 2025.
For media inquiries, please contact Chuck Stipancic by phone at 703-902-1187 or by email at cstipancic@aviationfacilities.com
About Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International is the 22nd busiest airport in the United States and the 93rd busiest in the world. More than 330 flights depart daily to more than 100 nonstop destinations. In 2025, SLC saw more than 28 million passengers travel through the airport. For more information on SLC air cargo, go to www.slcairport.com/business-services/slc-the-premier-cargo-gateway-to-the-west/
