DSV initiates a weekly Boeing 777 freighter service from Seoul to Chicago-Rockford, enhancing logistics efficiency and bypassing O'Hare congestion.
Global logistics provider DSV has begun a weekly Boeing 777 freighter service from Seoul to Chicago-Rockford International Airport, bypassing congested Chicago O'Hare, reported New York's FreightWaves.
Operated by Atlas Air, the flight stopped in Shanghai and Anchorage before arriving at Rockford, then continued to Luxembourg. DSV began using Rockford in November with charter flights from Shanghai and added a Luxembourg service in June.
Mohamed Siraj, DSV vice president of Air Direct / Global Gateways, stated that Rockford offers reliability and flexibility for scheduled international freighter services. The company plans to add a Chennai route later this year.
DSV utilizes a multi-client terminal run by Menzies Aviation to transfer loads between aircraft and trucks serving local warehouses. Freight forwarders often charter aircraft to gain control over capacity, scheduling, and delivery speed.
Rockford ranked 19th in North America for cargo in 2025, handling 498,432 tonnes, which is up 10.8 percent from the previous year. The FAA ranked it 12th in the US for landed weight, reflecting the presence of large cargo aircraft.
UPS, Amazon Air, and Maersk Air Cargo dominate operations at Rockford. Since the Covid crisis, second-tier airports have attracted logistics firms due to lower costs, less congestion, and faster cargo transfers compared with major hubs.
Airport officials noted that airlines can save up to 25 minutes in taxiing time compared with O'Hare, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.
