By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford airport reported a nearly 10% drop in its cargo numbers last year, but airport officials point to growth in cargo activity compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The pandemic shifted many sales online and drove a surge in business for retailers like Amazon, which has a major hub at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. It also sent cargo numbers soaring at the Rockford airport. Those numbers came back down to earth last year.
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There were 3.1 billion pounds of weight landed at the airport in 2023, compared to more than 3.4 billion pounds in each of the previous two years. There were 2.7 billion pounds landed in 2020, 2.3 billion pounds in 2019 and 2.1 billion pounds in 2018, according to airport data.
“We are pleased with the consistency demonstrated by RFD amidst a rapidly evolving industry landscape,” Zack Oakley, executive director of RFD, said in a news release. “Despite fluctuations, which we expected, our cargo operations are poised for substantial growth.”
The Rockford airport is home to the second-largest UPS hub in North American, as well as major operations base for Amazon. It also welcomed Menzies Aviation to a 50,000-square-foot building on its grounds on June 1. Menzies, which is the leading international air cargo handler, has a 10-year lease with the airport.
Passenger growth expected with new destinations
The Rockford airport welcomed 238,166 passengers in 2023, which is about 1% fewer than 2022, according to RFD.
The most popular destination is Punta Gorda, Florida, with more than 63,000 passengers. The airport said at least 90% of its seats are occupied per flight, which outperforms many other airports served by Allegiant.
“The consistency in passenger travel underscores the airport’s steadfast commitment to providing reliable and efficient services to travelers,” Oakley said. “We are excited about future growth of our passenger services.”
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Allegiant is expanding its passenger service at RFD this year flights to Nashville starting on May 16 and flights to Los Angeles starting June 12.
Airport officials expect the expanded travel options to bolster the airport’s passenger numbers.
“As we maintain our existing services and embark on exciting new ventures, we anticipate continued growth and success for RFD,” Oakley said in a news release. “We remain dedicated to serving our community, providing exceptional services and driving economic prosperity for the region.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas