Logistics & the Rise of Aerotropolis 

  • December 21, 2000
  • • Written by: John D. Kasarda, CRE 

Winter 2000/2001, Vol 25, No 4

Abstract: An increasingly fast-paced digitally driven era is changing the rules of industrial competition and location. These rules are being shaped by e-commerce strategies emphasizing efficient supply chain management and rapid order fulfillment. Growing reliance on air logistics for order fulfillment, along with increasing long-distance travel needs of business people, is spawning corridors, clusters, and spines of airport-linked commercial real estate development, leading to a new urban form – the aerotropolis. After summarizing features of this new form of development, examples are provided of emerging aerotropoli around the world.