O’Hare moves forward with cargo expansion

The Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s second phase of its Northeast Cargo Center opened Thursday as cargo volumes at the airport continue to soar.    The Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s second phase of its Northeast Cargo Center opened Thursday, according to a press release issued by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office.
   The entire Northeast Cargo Center development is being funded by a $160 million investment from Aeroterm and more than $62 million of airport funds.
   The new 240,000-square-foot phase two building is home to Burak, Cargolux and Swissport.
   Phase one was completed in December 2016 and phase three is now expected to open in two to three years.
   Overall, the complete project will feature 915,000 square feet of warehouse and office space, with each building providing landside and airside access.
   Cargo volumes at O’Hare have been thriving, with the airport handling 921,046 tons of cargo during the first six months of 2017, up 15.3 percent from the corresponding 2016 period, according to figures released by the Chicago Department of Aviation.