Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) used the occasion of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)’s Air Cargo Forum in Miami, last week, to announce and officially sign a joint development agreement. Their partnership plans to facilitate and improve cargo transportation between Scotland and the U.S., with a particular focus on the aerospace and e-commerce industries, initially. The move “could significantly boost the Scottish economy,” the press release forecasts.
The two airports are very similar in their benefits: neither suffers from a night flight ban or any kind of curfew. Therefore, full-service operations are possible, 24/7, which are perfect for supporting continuous cargo operations at both ends.
The partnership aims to strengthen the air cargo trade lane connecting PIK and RFD, and to facilitate the sharing of information between the airports, bolstering the air cargo pull factors to each. Both have a number of high-value aerospace manufacturers operating within their catchment areas, hence the initial focus on the aerospace industry. E-commerce, too, is no stranger to either hub. PIK was recently selected as Royal Mail Group’s international e-commerce gateway to the UK, and RFD is already established as a U.S. e-commerce hub.
Nico Le Roux, Business Development Director, PIK, stated: “We are looking forward to getting underway with this new partnership with RFD, and working with another regional cargo hub to grow this high-potential trade lane. Our initial focus will be on aerospace cargo, as both PIK and RFD are positioned within large aerospace industry clusters.”
Zack Oakley, Executive Director, RFD, said: “The Chicago-UK air cargo market flow amounts to over 26,000 tons annually and is currently underserved by direct air cargo routes to Scotland. Developing the air cargo connections between PIK and RFD aims to rectify this, while supporting the emerging growth factors for air cargo across the perishables, automotive, pharma, and e-commerce sectors. The partnership also allows us to help shippers secure significant cost savings and CO2 reductions, aligning with both airports’ sustainability goals.”
