Northlink deal helps Cathay combat Alaskan winter

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Cathay Cargo has signed an agreement to use NorthLink Aviation’s cargo terminal  at Alaska’s Ted Stevens Airport Cathay Cargo, giving it freighter parking and more winter weather resilience from October 2025. The airport is a technical stop for Cathay’s Transpacific Boeing 747 freighters.

The new deal will also grant Cathay Cargo customs clearance for cargo entering the US.

The deal includes 11 power-through hardstands for aircraft to park and depart without ground-tug assistance, and four push-back hardstands. Each of stand will offer dual hydrant fueling systems, lighting towers for enhanced ground safety and renewable energy ground power systems. The agreement also includes collection and recycling of de-icing fluid.

Cathay says that access to guaranteed stand parking will help minimise disruption and strengthen schedule resilience during intense winter weather. It currently uses stands provided by the airport authority shared with other carriers which can become occupied and blocked, leading to diversions and flight cancellations.   

Cathay’s director of cargo, Tom Owen, said: “Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has been a cornerstone in Cathay Cargo’s successful transpacific operations over many decades, serving as a stopover for our freighters en route to and from the Americas. Leveraging NorthLink’s privately developed stands through this long-term agreement helps Cathay Cargo address the challenges posed by severe winter storms by ensuring dedicated gate access is available and offering a dependable supply of hard stand parking spaces, thereby enhancing operational resilience and service reliability for our customers’ shipments.” 

NorthLink Aviation chief executive, Sean Dolan added: “NorthLink intends to not only provide world-class infrastructure, but partner in helping Cathay Cargo expand commercial opportunities and capture sustainability gains at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.”  

NorthLink is backed by investor Tiger Infrastructure Partners, which targets growth investments in digital infrastructure, energy transition and  transportation in North America and Europe.

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