With its 2-mile-long runway and proximity to Boston, Pease International Airport offers a tempting location for international logistics firms.

A proposal to build a new air cargo terminal at Portsmouth’s Pease International Tradeport has been withdrawn, and the proponents say they will instead explore manufacturing uses for the site.

The Pease Development Authority had granted the Kane Co. and PROCON Inc., two local developers, an exclusive 18-month option to explore the possible development of two parcels at the airport into major air cargo facilities.

Industry experts had told The Registry Review that a new cargo facility at Pease would likely handle classic Granite State export items such as seafood products, maple syrup, furniture, electronic items and higher-end manufactured goods. Imports would include many of the same items aimed for distribution to the entire eastern New England region. 

However beneficial the project might have been to the New Hampshire economy, local opposition to a large increase in flights in and out of Pease greeted the proposal.

Kane and PROCON officials told Portsmouth leaders that they were backing down from their idea, according to the Portsmouth Herald, in favor of some type of aeronautical manufacturing use because the airport didn’t have the volume of passenger air travel most successful cargo airports have. Many passenger flights carry commercial cargo in addition to passenger bags in their holds.