Port Alberta 2.0: inland shipping hub concept relaunched in Edmonton region

'We think in 10 years, 20 years, this will be a global epicentre for North America to move goods and services in and out of this part of the world.'

An international shipping and logistics hub concept that has undergone several changes over the years is being relaunched with a bigger scope in the Edmonton region.

The concept of Port Alberta is to promote the entire Edmonton metropolitan region as a major manufacturing, cargo and shipping hub for air, road, rail and pipeline distribution.

“Port Alberta is already being used, but right now it’s being used more around the airport and people tend to think about it as an airport program — but it’s really the entire region,” Edmonton Global marketing and communications vice-president Chris McLeod said as he explained the expanded scope.

Edmonton is the northernmost major city in North America, with rail and road access to both the major ocean ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

The Edmonton International Airport is also Canada’s closest major airport to Asia by circumpolar routes.

“We’re only about nine minutes’ different flight time from Edmonton to Hong Kong or to Shanghai compared to Vancouver. And land is way cheaper here,” McLeod said.

The airport has partnerships with Air China, Korean Air, Icelandair and Air France-KLM. In the past decade, it has focused beyond passenger travel to expand international cargo capabilities.

Beyond the airport, Edmonton is home to several large and rapidly growing industrial areas, including Nisku to the south surrounding the airport, and Acheson to the west of the city.