Gary airport celebrates 400th international flight after opening customs facility
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The Gary / Chicago International Airport is celebrating a milestone this summer.
On May 14, the airport marked its 400th international flight since opening its U.S. Customs and Border Protections facility in October 2018.
That 2018 addition allowed international travelers to fly into Gary without clearing customs elsewhere first. Officials say four years after opening the facility, the airport averages seven landings per month from 34 countries spanning four continents.
“Post-pandemic operations have rebounded strongly and are on pace to exceed prior operations,” Gary / Chicago International Airport Authority Chairman Pete Visclosky said in a news release. “While we take this moment to celebrate our 400th international flight landmark, the airport is also committed to continuing to evolve and bolster our offerings for international travel.”
The airport began a series of infrastructure improvements in 2015, starting with an extension of its main runway. At nearly 9,000 feet, the extension creates the second largest runway in the region, just after O’Hare International Airport, and has allowed the airport to service larger, heavy aircraft.
The airport approved a long-term lease and easement agreement with UPS in May 2020, bringing express air shipment operations to the area.
“The airport continues to be a pillar for the Northwest Indiana region – ushering in economic development and creating jobs,” Executive Director Dan Vicari said. “Our (Customs and Border Protection) facility addition, and prior and subsequent infrastructure investments have allowed for the airport to expand upon our operation and service capacity.”
Gary airport officials recently announced the purchase of a new, 3,000-gallon airport rescue and firefighting truck to add to its fleet of equipment that’s 20 years or older.