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Chicago opens second phase of cargo expansion ahead of schedule

CHICAGO's O'Hare International Airport has officially opened the second phase of its US$220 million Northeast Cargo (NEC) development.

The second phase of the project opened ahead of schedule in "direct response to the strong demand for moving air cargo through Chicago," said a spokesperson for the mayor city.

With O'Hare's newest cargo development on track and ahead of schedule, 2017 air cargo volumes at the US cargo hub are already up by 15 per cent over same period last year, putting Chicago on course to handle a record 1.8 million tonnes by year end.

"The City of Chicago is making investments and improvements to ensure O'Hare has not only the best commercial service, but the best cargo space," said city mayor Rahm Emanue.

"With the next step of this project complete, we are delivering on our promise to grow O'Hare's capacity and competitiveness, and in turn, its ability in the long-term to provide thousands of new jobs and serve as an economic driver for our city," he added.

The NEC development, built at no cost to Chicago taxpayers, is funded by a $160 million investment from Aeroterm and by more than $62 million of airport funds, London's Air Cargo News.

The 240,000 sq ft second phase building is home to Burak, Cargolux and Swissport tenant operators. When complete, it will be the largest airside cargo development built in the last decade at a US international gateway airport. Phase three is now expected to open in two to three years, also ahead of schedule.

In its final form the northeast cargo development will deliver 800,000 sq ft of warehousing and apron pavement. These investments will make way for up to 15 widebody aircraft to unload at any given time at O'Hare, with each Boeing 747-8F type aircraft estimated to deliver cargo valued at $3 million per call.