Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) has announced that Challenge Group will launch twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights to Rockford from 4 November 2026.
The new service will originate at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), India, routing via Liège Airport (LGG), Belgium, before continuing to RFD.
Outbound shipments from Rockford will also connect through Liège, giving customers access to Challenge Group’s European network, supported by around 1,500 truck movements each month, as well as onward connections to Navi Mumbai.
The new route will strengthen RFD’s international cargo network and expand Challenge Group’s North American operations. The service is expected to primarily carry pharmaceuticals, oversized and out-of-gauge cargo, with plans to introduce live animal (AVI) transportation in the future.
“Chicago is a strategically important market, serving a broad range of industries that depend on reliable international cargo connectivity,” said Or Zak, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Challenge Group.
“By introducing this service through Rockford, we are creating additional opportunities for customers moving specialised cargo between India, Europe and the United States.”
The launch supports RFD’s strategy to expand its international freighter network and establish the airport as a gateway for specialised cargo entering the US.
“This new service is a direct result of our continued efforts to attract international freighter operators to Rockford, particularly the work we have undertaken to establish the airport as a leading cold chain corridor into the United States,” said Zack Oakley, Executive Director, RFD.
RFD is located approximately 40 miles from animal quarantine facilities and is seeking USDA approval to support AVI shipments.
To support pharmaceutical cargo, RFD will coordinate dedicated temperature-controlled trucking capacity for onward transportation to destinations in the Rockford area and warehousing facilities in Chicago.
“Rockford offers the capacity, flexibility and long-term potential to support this growth,” added Zak.
