US airports and their cargo capacity
Air cargo plays an essential role in global trade, transporting goods around the world in a timely and efficient manner. In the United States, air cargo is handled by a network of airports that serve as gateways to the rest of the world. These airports have the necessary infrastructure and facilities to handle cargo planes and the movement of goods.
The cargo capacity of an airport is an important metric that reflects its ability to handle and process air cargo. It is measured in terms of the amount of cargo that an airport can handle in a given year, usually in metric tonnes. In this article, we will look at the top 10 US airports with the highest cargo capacity and explore some of the factors that make them important hubs for air cargo.
Top 10 US airports with the highest cargo capacity
The top 10 US airports with the highest cargo capacity are:
- Anchorage International Airport
- Memphis International Airport
- Louisville International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Miami International Airport
- JFK International Airport
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
These airports are located across the country and serve different regions and markets. Let’s take a closer look at some of them and their unique features.
Anchorage International Airport: the cargo hub of the north
Located in Alaska, Anchorage International Airport is known as the "Gateway to the Americas" and has the largest cargo throughput of any airport in North America. Its strategic location makes it a key hub for air cargo traffic between Asia and North America, as well as for domestic cargo operations in Alaska.
Anchorage International Airport is home to one of the largest air cargo operations in the world, with over 30 cargo carriers and more than 2.7 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is also the primary hub for FedEx’s global operations, which has a major sorting facility at the airport.
Memphis International Airport: the home of FedEx
Memphis International Airport is another important hub for air cargo in the United States, serving as the home of FedEx’s global operations. The airport has the second-largest cargo throughput of any airport in North America, with over 4.4 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually.
Memphis International Airport is strategically located in the central United States, making it an ideal hub for air cargo traffic between North America, Europe, and Asia. FedEx’s global sorting hub at the airport is one of the largest in the world, processing millions of packages every day.
Louisville International Airport: UPS’s Worldport
Louisville International Airport, also known as UPS’s Worldport, is the third-largest cargo airport in the United States, with over 3.9 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is the primary hub for UPS’s global operations, which has a major sorting facility at the airport.
Located in Kentucky, Louisville International Airport is strategically located in the central United States and serves as a key hub for air cargo traffic between North America, Europe, and Asia. Its state-of-the-art facilities and technology make it one of the most efficient and reliable cargo airports in the world.
Los Angeles International Airport: the busiest airport in the western US
Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the fourth-largest cargo airport in the United States, with over 2.5 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is the busiest airport in the western United States and serves as a major hub for air cargo traffic between North America and Asia.
LAX is strategically located in Southern California, which is home to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. Its facilities and infrastructure make it an important gateway for air cargo traffic between Asia and the United States, handling a wide range of goods from electronics to perishable products.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport: the world’s sixth-largest cargo airport
Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the fifth-largest cargo airport in the United States, with over 1.8 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is also the world’s sixth-largest cargo airport, serving as a major hub for air cargo traffic between North America, Europe, and Asia.
O’Hare is strategically located in the central United States and serves as an important gateway for air cargo traffic between the United States and other parts of the world. Its facilities and infrastructure make it a critical hub for the movement of goods, including automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, and high-value consumer products.
Miami International Airport: the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean
Miami International Airport is the sixth-largest cargo airport in the United States, with over 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is a major hub for air cargo traffic between North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean, serving as a gateway to these important markets.
Miami International Airport is strategically located in South Florida, which is home to a large population of Latin American and Caribbean immigrants. Its facilities and infrastructure make it an ideal hub for the movement of goods, including perishable products such as flowers and seafood.
JFK International Airport: the cargo hub of the northeastern US
JFK International Airport is the seventh-largest cargo airport in the United States, with over 1.6 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. It is the primary hub for air cargo traffic in the northeastern United States, serving as a gateway to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
JFK International Airport is strategically located in New York City, which is home to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. Its facilities and infrastructure make it an important hub for the movement of goods, including high-value products such as fashion and luxury goods.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: the busiest passenger airport in the world and a major cargo hub
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest passenger airport in the world, serving over 100 million passengers annually. In addition to its passenger operations, it is also a major hub for air cargo traffic, handling over 700,000 metric tonnes of cargo annually.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is strategically located in the southeastern United States and serves as a gateway to Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Its facilities and infrastructure make it an important hub for the movement of goods, including automotive parts, electronics, and perishable products.
Conclusion: which US airport has the largest cargo capacity?
Anchorage International Airport has the largest cargo capacity of any airport in the United States, with over 3.3 million metric tonnes of cargo handled annually. Its strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities make it a key hub for air cargo traffic between Asia and North America, as well as for domestic cargo operations in Alaska.
Overall, the top 10 US airports with the highest cargo capacity play a critical role in the movement of goods around the world. Their infrastructure and facilities make them important gateways to other parts of the world, handling a wide range of products from electronics to perishable goods. As global trade continues to grow, these airports will remain essential hubs for air cargo operations.
