It was an eventful quarter for air cargo at IND. In January, the options for Indiana manufacturers exporting to Europe grew with the addition of a third weekly scheduled all-cargo flight to Luxembourg, Europe. The new international all-cargo flight, which operates on Sundays, was arranged by freight forwarder DB Schenker’s Indianapolis office and is operated by Cargolux Airlines using Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.

Also in January, Cargolux Airlines brought the newest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 747-8F, to IND. This latest generation of the 747 cargo aircraft provides Cargolux with more capacity through IND to handle the region’s European imports/exports while also achieving greater fuel efficiency. The new Boeing 747-8F is 18 feet longer than its predecessor, the 747-400F, with a maximum payload capacity of 134 metric tons. Due to the aircraft’s increased size, IND is one of only 21 airports approved by the FAA to receive the 747-8F.

And in March, IND's achievements in air cargo were again recognized, with the airport being named as one of the best airports in its class in this economically vital sector. IND’s fourth Air Cargo Award in as many years was presented by Air Cargo World, a leading publication in the airfreight industry.

IND is home to the world's second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility. While it often receives less attention, air cargo helps support passenger service by generating income for the airport and lowering costs for passenger carriers. IND’s position as a top-ten U.S. cargo airport is a strategic advantage and will continue to play a central role in the airport’s development in many areas.