Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) said it moved more than 3.48 million tons of air cargo last year — the volume surpassing the record-setting volumes seen in 2019 by 16%. 

Airport Director Jim Szczesniak noted that the tremendous surge in cargo volumes through ANC has been fueled by an increase in e-commerce, PPE, and displaced belly cargo.

“The pandemic has left an indelible mark on the e-commerce landscape, accelerating market growth — reaching numbers not forecast to be seen in the US for another two years," he said.

"We expect our cargo numbers to remain strong into 2021; as the air cargo industry continues to recognize the benefits and efficiencies of ANC; as e-commerce shopping becomes routine; as international travel restrictions continue to displace belly cargo.”

In a statement, the world's sixth-largest cargo airport said it is cementing its place as The Center of the Air Cargo World, just 9.5 hours from 90% of the industrialized world, more than 200 widebody freighter operations take place every day.

At least 28 widebody cargo carriers connect ANC to more than 50 destinations across the globe — 30 of them daily and another 20 destinations with a frequency of weekly or better.

“We continue to grow the benefits of utilizing ANC for our existing cargo customers and to attract new customers. We have more than US$1-billion of private air cargo development proposed for ANC, Alaska Cargo and Cold Storage recently executed a lease for their new 700,000 square foot facility,” Szczesniak noted.

“These developments will provide the infrastructure to streamline the global supply chain and make ANC a staple in the cold chain. These warehouse facilities will provide cargo carriers, freight forwarders, pharmaceutical, and other industry partners infrastructure required to leverage ANC’s strategic location and liberalized cargo transfer rights to consolidate cargo shipments here and ship nearer to the end customer, thereby limiting time en route.”

He said that an advanced cold storage facility adjacent to aircraft parking positions will also allow shippers to take advantage of the significant volumes of cargo capacity available to Asia as perishables from North America and South America can be dispatched from here to numerous destinations in Asia.

More pax transfer rights to benefit cargo

Meanwhile, ANC said it looks to further cargo advantages with the coupling of newly received passenger transfer rights. As the US Transportation department granted ANC passenger transfer rights to the airport in November, mirroring the already granted cargo transfer rights.

“There is a substantial revenue opportunity for passenger airlines to utilize ANC. For example, India to the Westcoast of North America nonstop has a significant belly cargo weight penalty — a stop at ANC eliminates that penalty and allows for more than $70,000 in additional cargo revenue for each flight,” Szczesniak said.