ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s largest airport became one of the nation’s busiest in recent months as disrupted shipping patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic increased cargo activity.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport jumped from the 38th busiest in the U.S. to the eighth busiest based on aircraft operations since the first quarter of 2020, The Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.
The Anchorage facility experienced a 25% increase in cargo volume from July to September compared to the same period last year, the airport said. Nearly 1 million tons (907,185 metric tons) of cargo moved through the airport during those three months.
The airport was the sixth busiest for cargo before the pandemic.
The heavy volume followed record levels achieved in the spring when 900,000 tons (816,466 metric tons) of cargo moved through the airport in the second quarter of the year from April through June, the airport said.
Freight volume increased 13.6% In the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year, the airport said.
More people embraced online shopping and boosted international air shipments, Anchorage airport Director Jim Szczesniak said.
Investors are pursuing new and expanded cargo business development at the airport worth more than $500 million, including opportunities with FedEx and UPS, officials said.
The Anchorage airport is also an important transit point for personal protective equipment used to help prevent coronavirus infections, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in the statement.
The Associated Press
