As major US airports face mounting congestion and increasingly limited capacity, smaller, regional airports are stepping into the spotlight, by offering a smart solution for air cargo carriers looking to move their goods faster and more efficiently as the current transition to near-shoring in the US continues to unfold.

A prime example of where this pressure is being felt most is at Newark Liberty International Airport. On May 16, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it would reduce scheduled arrivals and departures during peak hours through late October, citing severe air traffic control staffing shortages and construction constraints. The new caps, slashing movements to just 28 operations per hour during construction and 34 when paused, were issued in response to chronic delays and backlogs. While passenger carriers adjust their schedules, the move creates new friction for freight operators already struggling with access to the country’s busiest airports.

Yet the same shift that’s burdening major airports is fueling opportunity elsewhere. The rise of nearshoring is sparking demand for shorter, faster supply chains. As US companies move manufacturing from Asia to Mexico, Central America, and the US, air cargo strategies are being rewritten. Carriers are increasingly eyeing underutilised airports in strategic locations that offer lower congestion, faster turnaround times, and closer proximity to their industrial customers.

One such location is Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), where investor interest has taken off. “Milwaukee has a 10,000-foot runway that can take a 747, but very little freight infrastructure,” said Jack Rabenn, vice president at Crow Holdings, which is developing nearly 300,000 sq ft of logistics warehousing space near MKE. “It’s a military-grade airport that’s underutilised. We serve the same market as O’Hare with less delay and therefore more efficiency.”

The logic is sound. Mid-Size airports like MKE, Rickenbacker (LCK), and Ontario (ONT) boast long runways, ample plots of land, and far less airspace congestion. They often operate outside of the passenger-heavy schedules that dominate legacy hubs like JFK, LAX, and ORD. For cargo carriers, that can mean quicker clearance, more dedicated ramp space, and fewer service delays caused by passenger priority.

This shift also reflects a new supply chain playbook. A 2025 survey conducted by The Economist Group found that 88 percent of companies plan to reconfigure their logistics strategies this year, prioritising resilience, diversification, and regional trade. As more freight is flown between Mexico and the U.S. or between secondary U.S. cities, the need for mega-hub connections may be reduced. What matters more is point-to-point speed, cost-efficiency, and the ability to bypass more convoluted infrastructure. (Economist Impact)

Regional airports also tend to have friendlier zoning and development environments. While larger cities often face community resistance to expansions, many mid-size municipalities welcome the jobs and tax revenue they bring. So the right project, with the right partners, can also spur regional economic development without the friction.

Why are regional airports about to reach new heights?

• Fewer delays: Less passenger traffic means faster takeoff and landing windows for cargo

• Lower costs: Ground handling, storage, and fuel expenses can be cheaper than at major hubs

• Strategic location: Many are actually already close to manufacturing zones or last-mile distribution centers

•Development-ready: Former military or industrial airports often come with widebody-capable runways and the surrounding real estate

•Ideal for nearshoring: Smaller airports align with the emerging preference for agile, frequent, cross-border shipments over massive long-haul volumes

All of that being said, not all regional airports are ready to scale at the moment. Be it due to lacking adequate customs capacity, cold chain infrastructure, or airside development, there are still a few major hurdles that some smaller airports still need to overcome. But the momentum is growing fast. With the US airfreight market projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.10 percent from 2025 to 2033 and freight volumes trending upward at regional hubs, carriers are warming to the idea of rerouting, especially if it means avoiding the delays at legacy gateways. (IMARC Group)

So while smaller airports may not have the lore and prestige of their big-city counterparts…yet, in a new era where shipping practices will be defined by proximity and predictability, they might just end up being the next big thing.