Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) has announced it ended 2020 with the largest year-to-date landed cargo weight in the organisation’s history.

In 2020, cargo numbers grew by more than 15% to 2.7 billion pounds of freight that has landed and traveled through RFD compared to 2.3 billion pounds in 2019. The leading driver of the cargo growth was ecommerce purchases.

Cargo growth has continued at a high pace since the 2019 holiday season due to the pandemic in which a rise of purchases online continued throughout the year.

That, combined with the cargo flights carrying essential products and PPE to the region, increased the number of cargo flights and new international cargo operations.

In 2019, cargo numbers grew almost 11% over 2018 with more than 2.3 billion pounds of cargo traveling through the airport.

In comparison, 2018 cargo numbers were at 2.1 billion pounds and 2017 marked 1.4 billion pounds of landed weight at RFD.

“We’re proud to be a catalyst for access and ease of transporting goods for our region,” commented Mike Dunn, executive director, RFD.

“The ongoing infrastructure improvements and new development on our property will help us to continue to realise enhanced job growth and business opportunities as well.”