Rivian cargo flights give Bloomington’s airport a financial boost

Central ILWGLT · Oct 6, 2026

Rivian cargo flights give Bloomington’s airport a financial boost

Unscheduled air cargo has “grown exponentially” at CIRA as R2 production ramps up, its director says.

Central Illinois Regional Airport is financially strong thanks in part to Rivian, WGLT reports. Executive director Carl Olson said the automaker’s rising production since the R2 launched in June has meant more fuel sales, landing fees and air cargo operations.

Olson said unscheduled cargo flights, largely carrying components from other U.S. cities and Mexico for the Normal plant, arrive at all hours and have grown exponentially in recent years. They complement FedEx’s scheduled cargo service, which runs six days a week.

Source: WGLT

Paraphrased for the Oct 6, 2026 Tuesday evening digest. Read the original at the source link. Not affiliated with the newsroom.