O’Hare International Airport achieves impressive cargo volumes during the first half

Chicago, August 13, 2014 (STAT):- O’Hare International Airport expects cargo volume handled at the airport to touch 1.5 million tons in the current year. For the half year ended June, the airport recorded an increase of 8.5% in the cargo volume handled over the same period in 2013. The airport handled approximately 738,500 tons of cargo during the half year period.

“Air cargo creates billions of dollars in economic activity and supports thousands of jobs in the Chicago region,” said Rosemarie S. Andolino, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). “This significant increase in cargo volume at our global gateway is a positive sign of recovery and growth following the global economic recession over the last few years that impacted cargo traffic at airports around the globe. With the added capacity created from the O’Hare Modernization Program and the development of new cargo facilities at the airport, Chicago O’Hare is well positioned to be one of the world’s leading hubs for air cargo.”

Chicago is the leading national gateway for air exports to China, representing more than 25 percent of the entire market. In addition, many of the passenger carriers that serve O’Hare carry cargo in the belly of their aircraft. With about $115 billion worth of freight handled annually, O’Hare ranks second among all U.S. airports for the monetary value of its air cargo.