Rockford airport breaks records for cargo, passenger services
From news reports
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Chicago Rockford International Airport set records for cargo activity last year and ended 2021 with passenger traffic near its pre-pandemic levels.
The airport announced those milestones Monday, saying both cargo and passenger service experienced their best December in the organization’s history.
More than 3.4 billion pounds of cargo traveled through the airport in 2021, compared to 2.7 billion pounds in 2020, the airport said in a news release.
There were more than 431 million pounds of cargo landed at the airport in December, a one-month record for RFD. Medical instruments and equipment, cell phones and computers were among some of the top imports and exports moving through the airport last year, according to RFD.
“RFD has experienced back-to-back record-breaking years, which is a direct result of our intentional efforts to continually improve and expand infrastructure and bring new developments to the airport campus,” said Mike Dunn, the airport’s executive director, in a news release. “This translates into more jobs, new business opportunities, and providing long-term support of our region’s workforce and overall economy.”
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RFD, which has become an e-commerce hub in the Midwest, is home to the second-largest UPS hub in North American and a base of operations for Amazon Air. It serves more than 15 international airlines including DB Schenker, DSV, Senator International, ABX Air, ATI, National Airlines and Atlas Air.
“As more international companies look at air cargo as an option to circumvent supply chain disruptions at the ports, RFD is primed to expect another successful year in 2022,” the airport said in a news release.
Cargo weight at the Rockford airport
2021: 3.4 billion pounds
2020: 2.7 billion pounds
2019: 2.3 billion pounds
2018: 2.1 billion pounds
Source: Chicago Rockford International Airport
Passenger travel increases
The airport also had an increase in the total number of passengers it served last year, bringing numbers near what it served before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 103,000 passengers flew out of RFD in 2021, a 22% increase from 2020, according to the airport.
RFD set a one-month organizational record with a 26% increase in passenger travel in December compared to prepandemic numbers of December 2019.
The airport is served by Allegiant Air, which offers flights to seven nonstop destinations: Las
Vegas, Phoenix, Orlando, Clearwater, Punta Gorda, Destin and Sarasota.
“People were ready to get back out and travel last year, and we’re thrilled and grateful they chose RFD as their travel partner,” Dunn said in the news release. “We remain committed to providing convenient and hassle-free passenger service and look forward to adding to our lineup of destinations in the future.”
