Air cargo volumes decreased 2% in 2022 compared to 2019 to about 117 million metric tonnes. The top 10 airports represent 27% of cargo volumes and in 2022 gained 4% compared to 2019. Despite a 13% decrease vs. 2019, Hong Kong airport handled 4.2 million metric tonnes of cargo, making it the busiest in the world. Surprising locations are Memphis in Tennessee, where Fedex has a major hub, and Anchorage in Alaska, which serves as a hub between North America and Asia and handles 3.5 million metric tonnes. Geopolitical tensions and global trade and supply chain disruptions have caused large volatility in air cargo volumes. With the reopening of China and solving of supply chain problems, cargo volumes are expected to normalize in 2023.
Source: Airport Council International, April 2023.