Airport director Bob O'Brien just returned from the European country. He reached a verbal agreement with Malev Airlines to bring passenger service to Rockford.

In the next few weeks, O'Brien will be laying the deal out on paper. He'll also work to rally regional support through a public campaign, but O'Brien says the hard part isn't over yet.

O'Brien says he's working on submitting a formal request to the government for inspector services. He expects to have a final decision by the end of next month.