Atlanta focuses on cargo

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the busiest passenger airport in the world, but doesn’t even make it onto the list of top thirty cargo airports. So it is understandable that it would like to increase its cargo handle. And apparently being #1 in passenger traffic isn’t good enough either, because ATL says it is going to launch a $2 million-per-year incentive program to boost both its passenger and cargo businesses.

In most cases programs aimed at “passengers and cargo” only mention cargo as an afterthought, but for ATL the focus appears to be on cargo. In a statement on the matter, the Airport said “The incentive program is primarily designed to develop the Airport as a cargo and logistics hub.”

Under the program, which is scheduled to begin this summer, ATL will waive landing fees for one year for airlines starting new international routes not already served from Atlanta, as well as match up to 50% of promotional funds, capped at $25,000, for new passenger service and provide cargo carriers the opportunity to qualify for a waiver of aircraft parking fees at the Airport’s cargo areas. Additional waivers and incentives, such as a two-year waiver of landing fees, will be offered to carriers starting service to one of the five major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China or South Africa—while carriers starting service to Africa, Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia will also receive extra consideration.

Current cargo carriers serving ATL include: ABX, Air France-KLM, Asiana, British Airways, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, DHL Worldwide Express, Emirates SkyCargo (launched this month), EVA, FedEx, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and UPS.