Cargo traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson on the rise
By DeAllous Smith

Hartsfield-Jackson has posted upswings in year-over-year cargo traffic for three consecutive months. Department of Aviation officials said cargo traffic in November 2009 was 3.53 percent higher than in November 2008; December 2009 traffic was 17.89 percent higher than the previous year; and January 2010 saw an increase of an estimated 9 percent over January 2009.

“It’s very encouraging to report three consecutive months of rising cargo traffic, especially after experiencing one of the worst global economic downturns in recent history,” said Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta. “We anticipate that 2010 will be a year of ‘measured recovery’ throughout the industry. We’re expecting a full recovery in 2012.”

Hartsfield-Jackson’s fourth-quarter turnaround was marked by a resurgence in global imports in all areas, including freight/express and mail. In November 2009, international imports for freight/express operations were 18.46 percent higher than in 2008, while international freight/express imports were up 36.44 percent in December over the previous year and up an estimated 23 percent in January over the previous year.

“Hartsfield-Jackson has taken decisive steps to weather this global downturn by seeking out new markets and finding ways to expand our existing relationships,” said Warren Jones, Aviation development manager.

Hartsfield-Jackson remains a resilient hub of global economic activity. More than 200 million people — 80 percent of U.S. consumers — are within a two-hour flight or one day of transport by truck of the Airport. Thirteen all-cargo carriers operate at Hartsfield-Jackson.