Rich Sale International has launched a new series of charter flights transporting e-commerce cargo from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA) in China to Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), marking a further expansion of dedicated transpacific freight capacity.
The operation will see Atlas Air operate eight charter flights throughout August, before transitioning to a twice-weekly scheduled service from September.
“China to North America remains one of the largest trade lanes in air cargo, with e-commerce currently driving much of that demand,” said Zack Oakley, Executive Director at RFD. “Our aim is to establish the premier gateway for e-commerce into the United States by continuously enhancing our capabilities and expanding flight connections from China and Southeast Asia.
“Rockford is uniquely positioned for this role, offering a highly efficient, flexible, and reliable cargo operation without the congestion constraints of major passenger hubs. Aircraft turnaround times can be as short as five minutes from landing to engines off.”
Shanghai-based Rich Sale specialises in cross-border e-commerce logistics and freight forwarding services. The company highlighted Rockford’s cargo-focused infrastructure as a key factor in selecting the airport as its US entry point.
“E-commerce demands speed and adaptability, which can be challenging to achieve at passenger airports where cargo operations are often secondary,” said Jacky Wu, President of Rich Sale. “Rockford stood out as a dedicated cargo hub capable of meeting our operational needs and delivering efficient service to our customers.”
To support the operation, ten lowboy trailers arranged by Gateway Sales and Solutions were deployed to facilitate rapid unloading and onward distribution across the Midwest, helping to eliminate driver wait times.
The launch follows RFD’s recent addition of a weekly DSV freighter service from Incheon International Airport, introduced in July 2026, further strengthening the airport’s growing cargo network.