CARGO
Advantage Anchorage Eland Conway tells us more about a record breaking year for cargo at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and some ambitious plans to enhance its freight handling capabilities.
T
he coronavirus pandemic has caused global disruption and a downturn in passenger traffic the likes of which we’ve never seen before, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) was no exception, registering a 62% drop in numbers in 2020. However, that doesn’t tell the full story, as 2020 turned out to be a record breaker for air freight, with cargo volumes at the Alaska gateway soaring by 15% on 2019, its previous banner year. Indeed, the disruption to the global supply chain has sent ANC’s cargo volumes rising to more than 3.1 million tonnes. Airport director, Jim Szczesniak, says: “The pandemic has highlighted ANC’s significance in the global supply chain. International passenger travel was decimated, seemingly overnight. The cancellation of those flights sent shippers – who traditionally rely on the cargo space available in the bellies of those passenger flights – scrambling for solutions. “Air cargo carriers responded accordingly, recognising the strategic advantages of ANC’s location. A stop at ANC means higher payloads, more efficiency, and at a time when so many people are counting on expedited service from an already stressed supply chain – faster shipping!” In addition to the loss of cargo space on international passenger flights, the demand for freighter space has been further exacerbated by increased demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and booming e-commerce, as many have resigned themselves to a home-life of teleworking and self-imposed solitary confinement
36
AIRPORT WORLD/ISSUE 2, 2021
adopting online shopping as the preferred shopping experience in a new reality. Anchorage has seen first-hand, the air cargo industry’s response to the pandemic. Before COVID-19, ANC touted daily service to 21 markets and an additional 23 markets with at least weekly service. ANC now boasts daily widebody freighter service to 30 destinations and another 20 destinations with at least weekly service. “In addition to an increase in frequency from our traditional ANC customers, we’ve also seen a few unexpected visitors, such Ethiopian Cargo, Longtail Aviation, AeroUnion and Ukraine International,” notes Szczesniak. “Even the Antonov 225 and the New England Patriots plane moved some PPE through Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.” The shortage of cargo space sent air carriers across the globe scrambling for aircraft. In early 2018, both UPS and FDX cut MD11 operations at ANC by nearly half as they brought newer aircraft online. In 2019, MD11 operations fell another 30%. Since January 2020, ANC has seen UPS and FedEx’s MD11 operations steadily increase – spiking in May and June – to the highest number of MD11 operations since November 2017. A total of 443 and 442 landings for those months when combined with Western Global MD11 landings. The airport is doubling down on its location and significant cargo transfer rights with new developments. ANC has the most liberalised cargo transfer rights in the United States.
