Challenge Group adds new US-Europe-India freighter operation

The service will utilise a Boeing 777 freighter and operate on a loop of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), Liège Airport (LGG) and Chicago Rockford (RFD).

The twice-weekly service will start on 4 November and follows the group’s decision to temporarily suspend freighter operations at the Indian airport due to operational challenges.

Challenge added that in Liege, it can offer a network of approximately 1,500 truck movements per month for onward access across Europe.

The service will primarily cater for 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 US.”

The new service also supports RFD’s ongoing efforts to expand its international freighter network and establish the airport as a gateway for specialised cargo entering the country, Challenge said.

“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.

“We see significant potential to grow this partnership beyond the initial twice-weekly service, including increasing flight frequencies and supporting AVI transport.”

The airport pointed out that RFD is located within approximately 40 miles of animal quarantine facilities, at a comparable distance to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and is in the process of securing approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support AVI shipments.

“RFD is well positioned to support this service as it develops, with cargo-focused infrastructure and the capacity to accommodate specialised freight,” said Rene Espinet, vice president – cargo business development, RFD.

“Challenge will have access to the wider Chicago market, combined with the efficiency, flexibility, and reduced congestion of a dedicated freighter airport.”

RFD is also coordinating dedicated temperature-controlled trucking capacity, providing onward transportation to destinations in the Rockford area and warehousing facilities in Chicago.

The announcement was made during the TIACA Air Cargo Forum.