Gary/Chicago International Airport

Under typical circumstances, the Gary / Chicago International Airport (GCIA) operates as the region’s premier mid-sized airport and operates as the Chicagoland Metropolitan Area’s official 3^rd airport.

But these aren’t typical circumstances.

Since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, GCIA has temporarily reconfigured its passenger terminal to function as a Multi-Agency Communications Center (MACC).

The MACC serves as a command response center coordinating information and supplies to 16 area hospitals covering the five (5) Northwest Indiana counties in Lake, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Porter counties. The MACC allows for an effective method of resource coordination among local hospitals, and importantly, tracks quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies critical to the response efforts.

GCIA quickly transformed into a critical partner in coordinating the COVID-19 response efforts throughout Northwest Indiana. GCIA works in coordination with the Northwest Indiana Information Sharing and Security Alliance (NIISSA), a multi-county public-private partnership designed to coordinate large-scale responses to critical situations impacting local safety and health.

“GCIA remains committed to ensuring the health and well-being of our larger Northwest Indiana community, and we are eager to assist in the response to the crisis,” said Duane Hayden, Executive Director of GCIA and a Colonel in the Illinois Air National Guard.

GCIA is an essential partner to Chicago’s major airports at Midway International and O’Hare International Airports, providing vital services for cargo and private aviation operations and freeing up needed capacity allowing Midway and O’Hare to increase passenger air service.