Following a 60 percent increase in traffic since 2003, the new 150,000 sq ft facility will enable the company to double its throughput and provide 400 jobs in the Calgary area.

Mike Tierney, president of UPS Canada said, "Despite the recent recession, Calgary's economy still stands as a growth engine for Canada with many businesses in the area looking to take advantage of emerging markets overseas."

UPS anticipates China and India becoming the dominant world markets in the next two decades. Tearney noted the rise of the middle class in India will serve as an incentive for Canadian entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on consumer demand for western goods. In 2008, India's purchasing power parity stood at $2.3 trillion, while China's stood at US $8 trillion.

The UPS facility is part of the YYC Global Logistics Park. Air cargo traffic at the site had risen from 66,000 tonnes in 1999 to 134,000 tonnes by 2007. Today, YYC generates more than $6 billion of annual economic activity, accounting for approximately 10 percent of Calgary's gross domestic product.