Ground handler MIC Cargo signs Rickenbacker lease

US ground handler MIC Cargo has selected Rickenbacker International Airport as the site of its first location outside Chicago, leasing a 46,000 squ ft facility adjacent to the growing air cargo hub.

With the addition of cargo terminal and export screening services MIC Cargo, a portfolio company of Inoa Ventures Management, becomes only the second full-service air cargo terminal services provider at Rickenbacker.

It comes as Rickenbacker’s number of flights and tonnage have continued to increase exponentially through the pandemic and with the challenges facing global ocean freight supply chains.

The building, located in the Alum Creek Logistics Center, was built in 1996 and features eight dock doors and one ramp. MIC is scheduled to begin handling cargo in the facility no later than January 2022.

Established in 2017, MIC Cargo is an airside ground handler offering services to scheduled passenger and freighter airlines and ad hoc charters at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

MIC Cargo chief executive Edip Pektas said: “As we evaluated the greatest opportunities to expand the MIC Cargo brand and philosophy, we have been actively considering a number of cities and airports.

“From our point of view, Rickenbacker is where we felt it best to next open based on current traffic forecasts, the Rickenbacker logistics community and our opportunity to offer service to a number of our existing clients outside of Chicago.”

Said Joseph Nardone, president and chief executive for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, owner and operator of Rickenbacker airport: “As a pioneer of the forwarder-centric business model, we believe our airport and growing community of logistics providers and air cargo partners is an ideal environment for MIC to succeed.

“The addition of MIC will allow Rickenbacker to continue to grow our international air cargo service while furthering our goal of providing best-in-class service for air cargo customers.”