By Eva Richardson | April 3, 2025 | The Logistic News
As geopolitical tensions and global supply chain uncertainties continue to shape the air cargo landscape, CEVA Logistics has taken a bold step to secure capacity across the Pacific. The launch of its new Wuxi (WUX) to Chicago (ORD) air freight charter service marks a strategic expansion of CEVA’s controlled network, signaling its intent to dominate one of the world’s most competitive trade corridors.
The new service, inaugurated on March 28, 2025, operates three times per week, offering more than 100 metric tons of lift per flight. For CEVA, this isn’t just about connecting two cities—it’s about establishing a scalable, reliable bridge between China’s manufacturing heartland and America’s Midwest distribution engine.
Why Wuxi?
Wuxi, located in China’s Yangtze River Delta, has quietly emerged as a high-potential logistics hub, offering close proximity to Shanghai’s manufacturing zones without the congestion of larger ports. The city’s Sunan Shuofang International Airport is rapidly growing in international cargo throughput, and CEVA is one of the first global players to establish a dedicated link from Wuxi to the U.S.
“Wuxi gives us access to a premium export base,” said Loïc Gay, CEVA’s Global Air Product Leader. “It allows our customers to bypass traditional bottlenecks while gaining speed to market.”
Landing in Chicago: Speed Meets Scale
The service touches down at O’Hare International Airport, where CEVA operates a sprawling 700,000-square-foot facility less than 10 miles from the runway. The site includes:
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180,000 square feet of TSA-certified cargo screening capacity (CCSF)
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8,000 square feet of Free Trade Zone (FTZ) space
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10,000 square feet of cold chain storage
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Advanced inspection technologies, including K9 detection and real-time tracking
From Chicago, CEVA activates its robust LTL distribution network, enabling 24–48 hour delivery to major cities such as Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Columbus.
Sustainable Cargo in the Spotlight
In addition to speed and coverage, CEVA is promoting the charter as part of its CEVA FORPLANET initiative. The program allows shippers to choose Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) options, helping clients reduce their carbon footprint without compromising delivery speed.
“Shippers today care about both cost and climate,” noted Gay. “We are future-proofing our air freight operations by giving customers the option to decarbonize their supply chains.”
Strategic Response to Volatility
The WUX–ORD route is CEVA’s latest addition to its controlled air freight capacity, a key component of the company’s post-pandemic strategy. As carriers reduce schedules and rates fluctuate, logistics providers that own or charter their own lift are gaining competitive advantage.
By controlling lift rather than relying solely on commercial cargo belly space, CEVA offers greater schedule stability, reduced transit volatility, and higher on-time performance—critical factors for industries like electronics, retail, healthcare, and perishables.
Conclusion
The launch of CEVA’s Wuxi–Chicago air charter is more than an operational milestone—it reflects a strategic shift toward resilient, asset-light but capacity-secure air freight models. As trade routes realign and client expectations intensify, CEVA is positioning itself not just as a global forwarder, but as a supply chain architect offering reliability, flexibility, and sustainability at scale.
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