Aerial view of Gary/Chicago International Airport

UPS chooses Gary/Chicago Airport to handle increased demand for package delivery

Contributed By:The 411 News

United Parcel Service, the world's largest package delivery service has signed a long-term lease to open a facility at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The announcement was made today by aiport authority board chair Timothy Fesko.

The agreement with UPS includes 14,000 sq ft of office space in the airport's passenger terminal as well as a 150,000 sq ft ramp with enough space to park a pair of A300s. The A300 is a wide-body cargo jet with a maximum payload of over 120,000 lbs and the ability to carry over 14,000 packages.

In recent years, the Gary Airport began a shift to expand its cargo capacity after several attempts with passenger carriers failed. GCIA rerouted railway lines so it could expand its runways, to make it an option to cargo carriers usually attracted to Midway and O'Hare airports.

“UPS expanding its services to GCIA provides the airport with a critical competitive advantage and solidifies its role as the Chicago region’s 3rd regional airport,” said Fesko.

UPS will offer Next Day Air Service per their agreement with GCIA. Each weeknight, UPS aircraft will depart GCIA for the company’s global air hub in Louisville, KY for sorting purposes. Early the following morning, the aircraft will return to GCIA carrying thousands of express packages for delivery later that day. Nationwide, Next Day Air volume grew by 20.5% in the first quarter of 2020, the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit increases.

“This agreement represents a new era for the Gary/Chicago International Airport and is a real game-changer for airport operations moving forward,” said GCIA Executive Director Duane Hayden. “Over the past several years, the airport has witnessed continued private and public investments to get us to this moment and we could not be more pleased.”

UPS anticipates employing about 60 people at the facility, including ground handlers, administrative positions, aircraft maintenance technicians and management employees. Some will be current UPS employees who transfer to Gary, while others will be new hires. Hiring will begin later this year, and positions will be posted on www.upsjobs.com

“I would like to offer a well-deserved congratulations to Airport Chairman Tim Fesko, Airport Director Duane Hayden and all of the Gary/Chicago International Airport team for taking this critical first step. The airport is an important economic engine for the region, and continued investments at the airport lead to increasing opportunities for Gary residents,” said City of Gary Mayor Jerome Prince.

Story Posted:05/13/2020