A look at the airports that move the most cargo and why, along with some observations on the declining demand for air cargo globally. According to Airports Council International (ACI), the busiest airports by both aviation freight and passenger traffic are shared. The majority of airports’ rankings remained stable in 2022, but there has been a decline in the volume of international air cargo traffic.
The top aviation freight hub in the world is Hong Kong International.
Naturally, Hong Kong International Airport is the busiest aviation freight hub on the planet. It is well known to be a significant Asian air cargo hub with nonstop flights all over the world. However, Memphis International Airport’s 4,042,679 metric tonnes of freight narrowly outnumber its 4,199,196 metric tonnes.Three cargo terminals at Hong Kong International Airport provide 5,000 square meters of cold room storage specifically for freight.
Clearly, Hong Kong International Airport was the best airport for the job when the globe needed COVID-19 vaccines that required temperature control.Daily air freight flights continued to connect Hong Kong International Airport with London’s Heathrow International Airport despite British Airways’ limitations on air passenger travel to Hong Kong only resuming in December 2022.
It comes as no surprise that Memphis International Airport is ranked second on the top ten list since it serves as Federal Express’s (FedEx’s) home field. In 2022, 146,330 domestic and foreign aircraft operations were handled by the airport. Since FedEx was founded with the goal of building a company that could transport items from one location to another, many of its shipments pass via the Memphis hub.
Relationships and location are crucial to the volume of air cargo
Alaska’s Anchorage International Airport came in third. 95% of the industrialized world can be reached by air in less than ten hours from Anchorage, which is located on the great circle route that connects Asia and North America. In 2022, it handled more than 3.4 metric tonnes of air freight. “ANC is committed to continuing to serve as one of the busiest cargo airports in the world through maintaining positive relationships with our partnering stakeholders around our airport,” stated airport director Craig Campbell.
To enable ANC to meet the needs of the aviation sector, responsible growth and development are taking place. The fact that we are the third busiest airport in the world proves how significant we are to the global economy.Awarded Best Airport in North America for 2022 by Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain, Anchorage International Airport is a world-class facility. Campbell replied as follows:
“Our foreign customers value the services ANC offers, from our constantly open runways to the cleanliness of our facilities, in addition to our strategic position, which is 9.5 hours distant from 90% of the industrial world. We also understand that it is thanks to the skillful ground handlers and fuel operators that we are able to maintain the punctuality of all of the carriers despite their hectic schedules. This honor recognizes each organization and person who contributes to the year-round operation of ANC.
Governor of Alaska Mike Dunleavy chimed in with additional praise, saying
The economic engine of Alaska has a spark thanks to Anchorage International Airport. It is a top-notch passenger and cargo airport with a special global location that welcomes everyone who passes through its gates.
Why has air freight decreased globally?
The global decline in air freight should be emphasized once more. According to ACI, “the ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and supply chains,” like Russia’s War on Ukraine, are to blame for the drop in air freight traffic. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a different international aviation group, also contributed to the decline by blaming inflation.
In a statement released in February, IATA Director General Willie Walsh stated,
“Compared to the exceptional levels of 2021, aviation cargo performance decreased due to considerable political and economic uncertainty. The demand for aviation cargo dropped by 1.6% from levels seen in 2019 (before the epidemic). A further fall in cargo volumes to -5.6% from 2019 is anticipated in 2023 as a result of important countries’ ongoing efforts to combat inflation through cooling economies.
However, a robust air cargo network is necessary to meet the world’s need for anything from animals to computer accessories, flowers, food, toys, and bizarre collections. Recent months have seen the emergence of new routes, such as the Bogata-Dallas Ft. Worth route operated by Qatar Airways Cargo and the Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) route operated by Silk Way West Airlines. So not everything in the world of air cargo is bad.
To sum up
IATA’s World Cargo Symposium is titled “Age of Change: Moving Air Cargo Forward,” and it is hoped that attendees will keep in mind that excellent logistics, connections, and global demand keep air cargo on the move and on the upswing. As the world gets increasingly connected, new pathways will continue to emerge.
