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China Hub at Lambert appears doomed

Lambert Airport Main Terminal
Flickr
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MoDOT
Lambert Airport Main Terminal

One of the key players in the effort to bring a China Hub to Lambert Airport now says that St. Louis has probably missed the opportunity.

Midwest China Hub Commission Chairman Mike Jones told KMOX Radio the Chinese stopped coming to Lambert after just a couple of flights because it wasn't profitable for them, and because Missouri lawmakers failed to pass a tax break package for new warehouses.

The hub for overseas flights from China and perhaps elsewhere could end up across the river. St. Clair County, Ill., officials are debating whether to issue $500 million in bonds to help attract international cargo flights to Mid-America Airport in Mascoutah, Ill.

About $4 million — much of it tax dollars — was spent on the Missouri effort.

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