There’s a new freighter-friendly kid on the cargo airport block, over in Chicago. In addition to O’Hare (ORD) and Rockford (RFD), Gary (GYY) has joined the throng. It celebrated the official completion of phase one of its US$ 24 million Cargo Campus on 08SEP26. The ribbon was ceremoniously cut, and Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) now offers a 223,000 m² (55 acres) cargo area including a concrete logistics apron with eight wide‑body parking positions, as well as fuel, utility and environmental infrastructure. Funding came from a mix of sources: US$ 10+ million from the state of Indiana, US$ 13 million from the FAA, and US$ 1 million from a regional development initiative. Construction began in late 2024 and was finalized during the summer, this year. While Gary might be quite a bit smaller than one of the world’s busiest cargo airports, O’Hare (ORD), and Rockford (RFD), which has seen accelerated growth over the past few year s and is now in the U.S. top 15 cargo airport, it does offer an alternative option – particularly to those involved in e-commerce, for example. Its largest customer to date (since 2020 and following a recent lease extension), is UPS.
City of Gary Mayor, Eddie Melton, announced: “Today’s milestone is a testament to what we can achieve through strong federal, state, and local partnerships. The completion of this state-of-the-art cargo campus elevates Gary’s role as a premier logistics hub in the Midwest. We are building the critical infrastructure necessary to attract world-class operations and drive sustained momentum for the City of Gary.”
Dan Vicari, Executive Director of GCIA added: “Today’s ribbon cutting marks a transformative moment for the Gary/Chicago International Airport and the continued evolution of our air cargo operations. […] The completion of this new 55-acre cargo campus positions the airport extremely well for continued growth, creating new opportunities for current and future airport users while reinforcing our role as a vital economic engine for Northwest Indiana.”
Michael Bruening, Chief Airport Engineer of Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), stated: “Indiana’s transportation network depends on strategic investments that strengthen connectivity, improve efficiency and support economic growth. The completion of this cargo infrastructure project enhances one of Indiana’s most important aviation assets and helps position the airport for future growth in freight, logistics and business development throughout the region.”
