Tech-giant Amazon is expanding its Amazon Air operation in Rockford at the Chicago Rockford International Airport.
Sarah Rhoads is the director of Amazon Air. She said via press release that the move is being made to “ensure we have the capacity to continue to fulfill our promise to our customers.”
Amazon Air is a middle point in an Amazon order, where products are flown across the country to regional hubs so they can be delivered in one to two days -- if you’re a Prime customer.
The expanded partnership is another example of the airport’s exponential growth. Their cargo business is now the 22nd busiest in the nation in terms of volume of cargo shipped.
The airport added around 1,000 jobs in each of the past two years. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara anticipates that trend to continue. Amazon currently employs about 250 to 300 people at the airport.
“The job potential is that it could literally double the number of jobs that are out there,” said McNamara.
McNamara also says Rockford is a top-three airport of the more than 20 “Amazon Air” currently uses in the U.S.
“I really don’t see this investment as a surprise," he said. "Since we’ve had such a strong working relationship with Amazon and with their subsidiaries over the years. And we continue to invest to make sure that Rockford is one of their top choices.”
The expansion is scheduled to open July 1 of next year.