RFD Hosts Reception to Honor Former Congressman Don Manzullo

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Greater Rockford Airport Authority hosted a reception today at the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) to honor the 20 years of service from former Congressman Don Manzullo.  While representing Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, Congressman Manzullo played a key role in development at RFD by making its Federal Inspection Service (FIS) and International Arrival Gate possible. To recognize Manzullo’s impact and significant contributions, RFD announced and unveiled the renaming of its International Terminal, which will now be called the Donald A. Manzullo International Terminal.

The FIS opened in 2006 allowing RFD to process several thousand international passengers and cargo flights over the last seven years. RFD now has passenger service to international destinations including Cancun, Punta Cana and Jamaica that are directly related to this facility. 

“Congressman Manzullo has been instrumental in providing RFD with tools and resources that support our continued growth,” said RFD Director Mike Dunn. “He recognized early on RFD’s potential to help boost our regional economy and quality of life, and he has done everything he can to help us capitalize on that potential. We are forever grateful for his friendship and hope the Donald A. Manzullo International Terminal serves as a long-standing testament to his commitment to our region.” 

“I am truly honored by this accolade. It has been a pleasure to work with and represent the Chicago Rockford International Airport, and I’m so proud to see the facility grow and achieve such great results,” said Manzullo. “I’ve always believed in the great potential of this airport and am confident that it will continue to be one of our region’s greatest economic drivers.” 

“Don Manzullo has always been a tireless advocate for Northern Illinois, especially when it comes to transportation needs in the Rock River Valley,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “He was determined to make sure that they had good transportation. And the Chicago Rockford International Airport has turned out to be the most important single transportation asset in the region.” 

The FIS and International Arrival Gate at RFD have hosted several high profile passengers and flight operations including Oprah Winfrey’s “Vacation of a Lifetime” to Barcelona for more than 1,500 of her employees and their families and friends in 2009, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in June 2012, and most recently the arrival and departure of the European Ryder Cup Team. In addition, the FIS has cleared more than 20,000 U.S. troops arriving from overseas enroute to their home bases.

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