november-december 2021 - 17

OPERATIONS
RFD executives were
pushing hard for new
opportunities, particularly
in the international market
and in just the first quarter
of 2020, RFD saw a 30
percent increase in landed
weight from the previous
year.
Taking
Advantage
of a Regional
Airport's Assets
At RFD, carriers experience the same
access to the Chicago metropolitan area
- but with less congestion. One of the
world's busiest airports is less than 70
miles away, but its vectored approaches,
long taxi times and considerable ground
holding result in slower recovery speeds.
RFD's size and location allow cargo
to be moved more efficiently. RFD's
wait time is lower for both airplanes and
trucks, keeping cargo moving into the
hands of businesses and consumers far
more quickly. It also is just minutes away
from multiple state and federal highways,
allowing cargo to be on its way to locations
throughout North America.
But it's not just location setting the
stage for success in Rockford. Airfreight
operations take up a large footprint of
the real estate for an airport - real estate
that's already limited at land-locked,
The airport was
among the first
in the country to
establish itself as
an Amazon Air
gateway, when
Amazon first
launched its own
cargo freight flights
in 2016.
CHICAGO ROCKFORD
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
gral parts of the supply
chain. Airport leaders
metropolitan airports. RFD has ample
room to grow in a way that can accommodate
warehousing, storage and trucking
needs for years to come.
RFD completed a 90,000-squarefoot
facility as part of the International
Cargo Facility to meet the needs of
freight forwarders and air cargo airlines.
Additional plans are in the works, as
well, to support future growth.
That's because international freight
is the fastest-growing sector at RFD,
consisting of up to 20 percent of its total
cargo business. At present, RFD handles
freight levels that are comparable to that
of holiday seasons in years past.
RFD offers expertise in helping
freight airlines and forwarders move
their product efficiently on the ground.
Officials coordinate trucking, warehousing
and material handling as intehave
long made a point of anticipating
market shifts to stay a step ahead of its
customers' needs.
With its intentional blend of cargo
air freight and passenger service, RFD
offers a case study for other regional airports
looking at the benefits of diversification.
The two different service lines
help RFD withstand economic swings
and even prosper when others might
struggle.
Successful cargo operations rely
on long-term vision casting. It's about
looking beyond the next 12 months
at a longer-term, bigger picture.
Opportunities abound for regional
airports, particularly those near major
metro areas, to excel in the air cargo
and logistics arena. All it takes is solid
infrastructure, the right location and a
whole lot of sweat equity. 
AviationPros.com/12074727
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 17
http://trinityhighwayrentals.com http://www.AviationPros.com/12074727 http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM
november-december 2021

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