HKG retains top cargo airport spot amid declining global volumes

Global air cargo volumes decreased by 6.7% year over year in 2022, with a total of 117 million tonnes, according to the latest estimates from Airports Council International World . ACI World ’s latest report used preliminary data to name the 10 busiest cargo airports for 2022. Combined, the top 10 accounted for about 27% of global air cargo volume last year at 30.8 million tonnes. That marked a 9.9% YoY decline but was 4.1% higher than in 2019. The council attributed the decline to ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and supply chains. See the top 50 cargo airports of 2021 here. Top 10 busiest cargo airports Despite a 16.4% YoY drop, Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) remained the busiest airport in 2022, handling 4.2 million tonnes of cargo, according to preliminary ACI World figures. HKG’s cargo volume was 12.7% lower than in 2019. Memphis International Airport (MEM) was second at 4.04 million tonnes, down 9.8% YoY and down 6.5% from 2019. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) overtook Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for third place. ANC handled 3.46 million tonnes of cargo, down 4.3% YoY but up 26.1% compared with 2019. PVG saw the biggest drop in volumes among the top 10, falling 21.7% YoY to 3.12 million tonnes of cargo. The airport’s cargo volume was 14.2% lower than in 2019. [caption id="attachment_57135118" align="aligncenter" width="987"] Source: Airports Council International World[/caption] Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), home to the United Parcel Service international air-sorting hub, rounded out the top five, handling 3.07 million tonnes of cargo, followed by Incheon International Airport (ICN), Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Miami International Airport (MIA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Narita International Airport (NRT). SDF was the only airport to see year-over-year growth, increasing its cargo volume by 0.5%. While MIA’s cargo volume declined 0.8%, it was able to take over the eighth spot on the list after ranking 12th in 2021. MIA’s cargo volume was also 19.5% higher than 2019, the second highest three-year increase after ANC’s 26.1%. Top 10 international freight airports ACI World also used its preliminary data to release its top 10 cargo airports based on international air freight volumes. HKG remained in the top spot for this list as well, handling 4.17 million tonnes of international cargo. ICN was second after an 11.2% decline to 2.91 million tonnes of international cargo. PVG, TPE and NRT rounded out the top five. [caption id="attachment_57135119" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Source: Airports Council International World[/caption] ANC moved to sixth from seventh place in 2022 despite a decline 5.6% YoY decline in cargo volumes to 2.35 million tonnes. Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar had a larger decline at 11.1% YoY, which saw the airport fall to seventh from sixth place. MIA moved up to eighth place from 10th with the smallest decline on the list at 0.4% YoY. Meanwhile, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) remained at ninth and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) moved up to 10th from 11th with 1.85 million tonnes of international cargo. PVG saw the greatest YoY decline on the international cargo list, falling 20.9% in 2022.

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