The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

[6] The airport currently receives passenger service through Allegiant Air, which flies to six year-round destinations.

[9] RFD traces its history to 1917, when Camp Grant was established by the U.S. Army as one of the largest military training facilities in the United States.

At the end of 1923, the Army closed Camp Grant as an active facility, transferring it to the Illinois National Guard.

During World War II, Camp Grant served as one of the largest Army induction and training centers in the United States, training medical personnel, and serving as a prisoner of war confinement center.

Coleman Air Transport had a small hub at RFD in the late 1970s with Grumman Gulfstream Is and was planning to introduce Douglas DC-9-10 nonstop to New York LaGuardia Airport before losing its operating certificate and going out of business.

[12] TWA flew Boeing 727s Rockford to Chicago O'Hare for a couple years starting May 1980.

The original Frontier Airlines (1950-1986) Boeing 737-200s served Rockford from 1984 until late 1986 nonstop to Cedar Rapids, Madison and Milwaukee and direct to Denver[13] when the operation was transferred to Britt Airways which flew turboprops for a short time.

[17] Transmeridian Airlines briefly operated a leisure-oriented focus city at Rockford beginning in 2003.

[24] The Rockford airport has played host to airshows in several capacities, often becoming one of the largest events in Northern Illinois.

In 1959 the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) moved its annual fly-in from Timmerman Field in Milwaukee to the Greater Rockford Airport after outgrowing the smaller Wisconsin airfield.

For 1970, the EAA would move its annual convention/fly-in to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it has been held ever since.

In 1986 the Greater Rockford Airport returned to hosting large-scale air shows with the Midwest AirFest.

[26] Chicago Rockford International Airport covers 2,900 acres (1,200 ha) and has two runways, both with an ILS: 1/19 is 8,200 x 150 ft. (2,499 x 46 m), and 7/25 is 10,002 x 150 ft. (3,049 x 46 m).

In 2017 the airport had 39,462 aircraft operations, average 108 per day: 61% general aviation, 31% airline, 4% military, and 3% air taxi.

[4] Chicago Rockford International Airport offers a range of convenient facilities to enhance the travel experience for passengers.

[28] An upgrade to the terminal in 2005 brought more jetways, escalators, and improved baggage handling equipment (the previous system catered to smaller turboprop aircraft rather than jets).

In 2015, the former BAX Global (through Air Transport International/ATI) and DHL Express (ABX Air) cargo facilities were demolished to begin construction on a 200,000 square foot MRO facility owned and operated by AAR Corporation, which was opened in 2016.