The Four Busiest Cargo Airports in the US

America’s Unlikely Cargo Hubs

Looking at the photo above, you might wonder why Memphis, Anchorage, and Louisville rank among the busiest airports in the US, despite being relatively small cities. In fact, these three airports are included in the Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World. Here’s the full list:

1. 🇭🇰 Hong Kong International Airport
2. 🇺🇸 Memphis International Airport
3. 🇨🇳 Shanghai Pudong International Airport
4. 🇺🇸 Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
5. 🇰🇷 Incheon International Airport
6. 🇺🇸 Louisville International Airport
7. 🇹🇼 Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
8. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles International Airport
9. 🇯🇵 Narita International Airport
10, 🇶🇦 Hamad International Airport

Why Small US Cities Dominate the Global Logistics Scene

Now, let’s explore why these three relatively small US cities have made it onto this prestigious list. Here are a few key stats to consider:

– Memphis, TN is within a 500-mile radius of approximately 36% of the US population, while Louisville, KY is within a 500-mile radius of around 41% of the US population.

– FedEx, the world’s second-largest logistics company, has its headquarters in Memphis, TN.

– UPS, the world’s largest logistics company, operates its massive air hub, the UPS Worldport, in Louisville, KY. Louisville was chosen because it is within a two-hour flight of 75% of the US population and a four-hour flight of 95% of the population.

– Anchorage serves as a crucial transit point between Asia and North America. Approximately 80% of all cargo flights operating across the Pacific make a “technical stop” in Anchorage to refuel, change crews, and (in some cases) transfer cargo.


Global Air Cargo Demand Dips in March 2023

The IATA reported a 7.7% decline in global air cargo demand in March 2023 compared to the previous year, with a slight improvement from February’s 9.4% drop. Despite this decline, capacity increased by 9.9% due to passenger business recovery.

A Breakdown of Air Cargo Volume Decreases By Continent:

Asia-Pacific: 7.3% 🔻
North America: 9.4% 🔻
Europe: 7.8% 🔻
Middle East: 5.5% 🔻
Latin America: 5.3% 🔻
Africa: 6.2% 🔻

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