After more than a year of successful import operations at Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines International S.A. will begin utilizing its advanced fleet of Boeing 747-8 freighters for export services beginning Dec. 18.
“Cargolux has been a fantastic partner with Rickenbacker and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about their decision to add export services,” said Elaine Roberts, President & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which operates the airport. “Rickenbacker has gained significant momentum this year in becoming the region’s preferred freighter destination for the eastern United States and this new service from Cargolux is a tremendous opportunity to propel the Columbus Region as a global gateway for cargo.” Cargolux has been providing import services to Rickenbacker through Hong Kong since June 2013. “The supply chain efficiencies and the geographic advantages of Rickenbacker have proven to be very beneficial to our business and our customers,” said Piergiorgio Curci, Vice President of the Americas for Cargolux. “There is significant interest to begin exporting goods from the Columbus Region to our hub in Luxembourg and throughout our extended network around the world. We look forward to offering this new service and to our continued partnership with Rickenbacker.” In September Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific began exporting services from Rickenbacker, which serves a wide catchment area of freight coming in from states surrounding Ohio including Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky. Having both of the extensive networks of Cargolux and Cathay Pacific available at Rickenbacker will give businesses in the eastern United Stated an even greater opportunity to compete on a global scale.