UPS will add Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) to its express air network on November 2 this year in time for the peak holiday shipping season.
UPS will use an Airbus A300 with a payload of 60 tons on the route to the UPS Worldport air hub in Louisville, Kentucky.
Each weeknight, the A300 will fly from Gary to Louisville and return the next morning with express shipments scheduled for delivery later the same day.
Brendan Canavan, UPS Airlines president, said, “The Gary/Chicago International Airport is well-positioned to add additional capacity and flexibility to the UPS network, helping businesses in Northern Indiana and the Chicago area compete at e-commerce’s fast pace as they serve their customers.”
Timothy Fesko, chairman of the GCIA board authority, said, “UPS expanding its services to GCIA provides the airport with a critical competitive advantage and solidifies its role as the Chicago region’s third regional airport. This is the latest private sector investment bolstering our operations capability and allows the airport to provide critical benefits to the Chicago metropolitan area.”
UPS expects to employ 60 people at the airport including ground handlers, administrative staff, maintenance technicians and management employees.
The facility lease includes 14,000ft2 of office space in the passenger terminal and a 150,0002 ramp area with space to park two A300s.