Air Cargo

Challenge Group Launches Twice-Weekly Boeing 777 Service Linking India, Belgium and US

Challenge Group is inaugurating a twice-weekly widebody freighter route connecting Navi Mumbai, Liège and Chicago Rockford, beginning November 4. The operation deploys a Boeing 777 freighter on a triangular loop serving the three hubs. The carrier recently paused Indian operations due to operational constraints before resuming with this new transatlantic-Asia linkage. Liège provides access to approximately 1,500 monthly truck movements for European distribution. The service targets pharmaceuticals, oversized cargo and out-of-gauge shipments, with live animal transportation planned for future implementation. Chicago Rockford positions itself as a specialized cargo gateway, located roughly 40 miles from USDA-regulated animal quarantine facilities. The airport is pursuing federal approval for animal import handling. Both Challenge Group and Rockford airport management indicated potential for frequency increases and expanded service scope as demand materializes.