Anchorage air volume declines 25pc, fuelling hub status grows traffic

ANCHORAGE's Ted Stevens International Airport has seen a 25 per cent drop in year-to-day cargo handling compared with the same period last year, but it is unlikely to impact with its new role as refuelling hub for freighters.

Airport manager John Parrott said the recent fuel system expansion bought by air cargo carriers has resulted in an increase in traffic hubbing to take advantage of 36 million gallons of fuel storage at Anchorage.

"Those airlines would not have made that capital investment unless they were very confident they're going to be here for a long time and need fuel," he said.

The slowdown of cargo volume has been attributed to more people moving goods by sea because it is cheaper than air but in the long-term, Mr Parrott hopes the speed of air freight will bring traffic back to an airport, which employs one in 10 residents of Anchorage.