Project nearing completion, poised to boost economic growth and cargo operations in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE (March 26, 2026) – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley visited Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to tour construction progress of its new air cargo facility, one of the Airport’s most significant development projects in decades. Located within the MKE Regional Business Park on the site of the former 440th Airlift Wing, the project is now well underway with completion expected by fall of 2026.
This $80 million development is a public-private partnership with Crow Holdings and transforms a previously underutilized section of Airport property into a modern cargo hub designed to better serve Wisconsin manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers. When finished, the 333,000-square-foot development will feature a dedicated air cargo building. The project also includes the construction of a new Milwaukee County Highway Maintenance Facility that will support both County and State transportation operations.
“This is an exciting milestone for Milwaukee County and a major investment in our region’s economic future,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “This facility will create jobs, attract new opportunities for the business community, and further solidify Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport as a key driver of economic growth in Wisconsin.”
The new facility will also help ease road congestion by shifting freight from trucks to air transport, reducing the number of heavy vehicles on Wisconsin’s highways each year. A large cargo plane equates to around 11 semi-trucks of goods. For example, just two major cargo flights visiting the new facility each week would remove 600 trucks/trailers from Wisconsin’s roads each year.
The project strengthens Milwaukee’s position as a competitive alternative to more congested Illinois airports and expects to bring in more than $2.3M in annual aircraft landing fees and ground lease rental fees.
“This new cargo facility is quickly taking shape and it’s exciting to see the vision becoming reality,” said Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “When this project is complete, it will give businesses across Wisconsin a faster, more efficient way to move goods around the country and the world. The additional revenue from this project is also a benefit to Airport users as it can help lower costs for airlines to operate here in the future.”
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport offers nonstop flights to 30+ destinations, and more than 200 international destinations are available with one easy connection. The complete list of nonstop cities can be found at flymke.com.
MKE is owned by Milwaukee County and operated by the Department of Transportation, Airport Division, under the policy direction of the Milwaukee County Executive and the County Board of Supervisors. The Airport is entirely funded by user fees; no property tax dollars are used for the Airport’s capital improvements or for its day-to-day operation.
