Memphis International Airport (MEM) is back atop the rankings as the world’s busiest cargo airport.
More than 4.6 million metric tonnes of cargo came through the airport last year, up 6.7 percent over 2019. It was enough to put MEM back on top of the ranking by Airports Council International (ACI), edging out Hong Kong International Airport, which earned the top slot in 2019. The last time MEM ranked first on the list was 2009.
The FedEx Express World Hub at MEM is responsible for about 99 percent of the overall cargo handled at MEM. The hub sees about 450 combined arrivals and departures per day.
Global passenger traffic at the world’s airports decreased by 64.6 percent in 2020, according to ACI, as travel was reduced due to COVID-19 concerns. However, air cargo volumes decreased by only 8.9 percent.
Air cargo volumes in ACI’s top 10 airports grew by 3 percent in 2020. The agency says the gain can be attributed to the increase in demand for online consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, and personal protective equipment.
