Milwaukee seeks larger freight role with new $80 million air cargo center

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has completed construction on its $80 million air cargo facility that is designed to expand the airport's role in the regional freight market and provide Wisconsin shippers an alternative to nearby, often congested, Chicago-area airports. The 337,000-square-foot facility , developed through a public-private partnership between Milwaukee County and Dallas-based re al estate developer Crow Holdings, was opened on Oct. 14 after five years under development. [caption id="attachment_57298557" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] A rendering of MKE's new air cargo facility. (Courtesy/ARCO/Murray)[/caption] "We are very pleased with our partnership with Crow Holdings. We feel that we've made a significant investment in our airport and in southeastern Wisconsin's economy," Harold Mester, director of public affairs and marketing at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), told Cargo Facts . "We feel that this will provide a great option for shippers that need to bring things in and out of this region as an alternative to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)." Airport officials said the new facility could quadruple the volume of air cargo moving through the city. MKE has operated a smaller cargo complex since 1989, which has been used primarily by FedEx and UPS, but the new facility allows MKE to handle bulk shipments for manufacturers who are bringing in raw materials or finished products in or out of southeast Wisconsin and beyond, Mester said. The facility can accommodate five Boeing 747-400 freighters simultaneously, each with a maximum revenue payload of 112.5 tonnes. UPS and FedEx bring widebody aircraft into MKE daily, but the new facility will allow other cargo operators to bring in shipments. No new carriers have been confirmed, Jack Rabenn, managing director at Crow Holdings , told Cargo Facts , adding that the company is having conversations with "all major freighters" and will likely begin with charters rerouted from Chicago. Rabenn mentioned National Airlines, Atlas and Challenge Group. Relieving Chicago airports The facility aims to gain more of the state’s freight rather than routing shipments through nearby ORD and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD ) , major Midwest hubs for freight. [caption id="attachment_57299806" align="aligncenter" width="2210"] MKE cargo activity from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5. (Graph/Cargo Facts)[/caption] In the FAA’s most recent annual cargo airport rankings report, published in June, ORD ranked fifth in the nation for landed cargo weight, at 8.5 billion pounds in 2025, and RFD ranked twelfth at 3.4 billion pounds in 2025. The MKE facility adds capacity and an alternative for shippers, not a replacement or direct competition to ORD, according to both the airport and Crow Holdings. "The goal here is to not replace Rockford or O'Hare specifically, but to offer a relief valve for wide-bodied freight," Rabenn told Cargo Facts . "It's important to diversify your supply chain, to not put all your eggs in one basket into one port of entry. There just hasn't been that option before, and that's what we're trying to provide." He added that taxiway delays alone at O'Hare average 40 minutes to 45 minutes, not including pushback delays, ground stops and congestion, which can add weeks - long delays to shipments. The new cargo center can handle specialized shipments, including pharmaceuticals, cold chain products, livestock and other cargo requiring dedicated handling capabilities, which is particularly relevant to Wisconsin’s manufacturing and industrial base. The state has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing jobs in the nation per capita, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cargo Facts LATAM 2027, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Jan. 8 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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