(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) reports strong air cargo growth for the first half of 2018. Air cargo tonnage is up 5.2 percent, to more than 1.34 million metric tons, for January thru June.

"Anchorage Airport’s strategic location gives air cargo operators the ability to fly fully-loaded aircraft between Asia, the United States, Europe, and Latin America," said Jim Szczesniak, Airport Manager "You can fly a fully loaded freighter to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico City, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt from Anchorage. This one location provides you global access.”

Special air cargo transfer rights contribute to the strength of ANC’s air cargo network. Airlines are allowed to transfer cargo between aircraft just like passengers making a connection at a hub airport.

Szczesniak says “We are seeing air cargo customers utilize these special transfer rights to increase the efficiency of their networks and that gives them the ability to open new markets. We are also seeing a lot of growth and interest in using ANC as a connection point between Asia and Latin America.”

This growth in air cargo traffic is also being replicated in the passenger market. Passenger numbers this year are also showing growth.

ANC is the world’s fifth busiest air cargo airport and the major gateway for trans-Pacific air cargo. ANC welcomes over 150 wide-body freighter aircraft per day and hosts significant operations from major integrators UPS, FedEx, and DHL.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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