Challenge Group unveiled its new India-Belgium-United States freighter service during the TIACA Air Cargo Forum held in Miami from October 26 to 29, 2026. The twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter operation will commence on November 4, running a loop connecting Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) in India, Liège Airport (LGG) in Belgium, and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Illinois . The announcement signals Challenge Group's return to freighter operations at Navi Mumbai after the company had temporarily suspended services there due to operational challenges .
The route is designed to serve high-value and time-sensitive cargo segments. Initial operations will focus on pharmaceuticals, oversized shipments, and out-of-gauge cargo, reflecting the specialised nature of the trade corridor between India's pharmaceutical manufacturing base, Europe's distribution networks, and the US healthcare market . Challenge Group has indicated plans to introduce live animal (AVI) transportation in the future, pending regulatory approvals at the US end .
Liège Airport serves as the European hub in this routing, where Challenge Group operates a road feeder network handling approximately 1,500 truck movements per month. This network provides onward connections across Europe and facilitates return shipments to India, creating a bidirectional cargo flow rather than a one-way export channel . The integration of air and road transport at Liège allows shippers to access destinations beyond the airport's immediate catchment area without additional air legs.
Chicago Rockford International Airport has positioned itself as a dedicated freighter airport with capacity and congestion advantages compared to Chicago O'Hare. The airport is located approximately 40 miles from animal quarantine facilities, a distance comparable to O'Hare, and is currently seeking approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to handle live animal shipments . Rockford's executive director, Zack Oakley, stated that the new service is a direct result of efforts to establish the airport as a leading cold chain corridor into the United States .
To support pharmaceutical shipments arriving on the new route, Rockford will coordinate dedicated temperature-controlled trucking capacity. This will provide onward transportation to destinations in the Rockford area and to warehousing facilities in Chicago, ensuring temperature integrity is maintained throughout the supply chain . The airport's cargo-focused infrastructure and specialised freight handling capabilities were cited as key factors in Challenge Group's decision to route the service through Rockford rather than a larger, more congested hub .
Or Zak, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Challenge Group, emphasised the strategic importance of the Chicago market. "Chicago is a strategically important market, serving a broad range of industries that depend on reliable international cargo connectivity," Zak said. "By introducing this service through Rockford, we are creating additional opportunities for customers moving specialised cargo between India, Europe and the United States" . Zak also noted that Rockford offers the capacity, flexibility, and long-term potential to support Challenge Group's growing global operations .
Both parties have signalled ambitions to expand the partnership beyond the initial twice-weekly frequency. Rockford's Oakley stated that the airport sees "significant potential to grow this partnership beyond the initial twice-weekly service, including increasing flight frequencies and supporting AVI transport" . For Challenge Group, the route represents an expansion of its North American network and a re-entry into the Indian market following the earlier suspension, positioning the carrier to capture specialised cargo demand along a corridor that links three major economic regions .