Chicago Rockford Airport marks strong end to 2018 with 55 percent y/y rise in cargo

Jan 24, 2019: Illinois hub Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) has surpassed previous years' numbers, officially making 2018 its biggest year yet for both cargo and passenger service.

Coming to cargo performance, the airport has not only clocked 55 percent year-over-year growth, but also enabled RFD to break the 2 million pound mark for the first time, with 2,137,303,460 pounds of cargo traveling through the airport.

RFD is home to the second largest UPS hub in North America, which continues to increase its daily cargo flights. The airport also serves other leaders in the air cargo industry, including ABX Air, ATI, and Atlas Air.

With the airport's recent cargo expansions and additional flights announced by Amazon Prime and other Amazon carriers, Rockford is quickly becoming a Midwest hub for e-commerce freight.

Mike Dunn, executive director at RFD informed: “This year, we'll continue work on the 120,000-square-foot building expansion at the Chicago Rockford International Airport Cargo Center. Once that is completed, we expect to see our cargo numbers continue to rise.”

Also, the airport will start of construction on a new $3.5 million ramp for cargo aircraft parking.