THE Lambert St Louis International Airport is down but not out in its quest to become the Midwest's China hub and determined to make a further bid by 2013 in the face of losing its tax credit deal.

    For members of the Midwest China Hub Commission, the news of the State House fighting off economic development bills which included the loss of the "Aerotropolis" tax credits for the airport is a blow to its efforts to become a global cargo hub, reported the St Louis Post Dispatch.

     "Who do I need to get mad at?" said St Charles County executive Steve Ehlmann, one of many ready to find those responsible for Lambert's failure to keep US$360 million in tax breaks.

    But, with China Air Cargo's two-year deal in place at Lambert for flights to and from Shanghai, it is more a question of building on this arrangement and competing "nose to nose", despite a lack of financial advantages, said airport's cargo director Dave Lancaster.

    Cash incentives amounting to tens of millions of dollars are still available to those wishing to build facilities around Lambert, added St Louis County Economic Council president Denny Coleman.

    Lambert will need to line itself up to apply in 2013 and some fresh blood might help to get them there, if slower than intended, said Mr Lancaster. "After we get a new cast of characters in there, we'll take another shot at it," he added.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)