Anchorage cargo traffic surges in November as key routes swing sharply

November 2025 became the busiest month of the year at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska, handling 2,949 international cargo aircraft landings, up 14% from a year earlier. According to NorthLink Aviation’s dashboard, China–United States remained the top country pairing. Sean Dolan, CEO, NorthLink Aviation, noted that the 6–7 November snowfall added pressure to airport operations on LinkedIn.

NorthLink Aviation is a company that is building and operating new cargo infrastructure at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport which has a 55-year lease for the 120-acre South Park Campus.

The standout carrier in November was Kalitta Air, which saw its landings jump an impressive 49% to 530. The rise placed Kalitta firmly among the busiest operators at Anchorage for the month. Atlas Air, which remained the highest-volume carrier, recorded 744 landings, marking an 8% increase. FedEx, however, moved in the opposite direction with 380 landings, a 35% drop from last year. EVA Air added to the month’s upward momentum with 144 landings, up 21%, while China Southern posted one of the strongest gains of the month with a sharp 90% rise to 120 landings.

Country-pairing activity in November reflected a similar mix of strong gains and pockets of decline. China to the United States remained the dominant lane, recording 638 landings, up 17%. Traffic from South Korea to the United States also grew steadily, climbing 20% to 371 landings. In contrast, the United States to Hong Kong lane softened, falling 24% to 137 landings, while movements from the United States to South Korea slipped 33% to 108. These shifts together set the pace of trans-Pacific flows through Anchorage in the month.

Across the month, November’s pattern showed a hub shaped by both strong carrier-led expansion and changing trade flows on key Asia–US corridors. Kalitta’s surge was a major contributor to the overall uplift, while Atlas Air’s steady growth helped maintain a solid baseline of activity. EVA Air’s rise added further support, and China Southern’s sharp jump signalled renewed movement on its network. At the same time, FedEx’s decline weighed on the overall mix, softening what might otherwise have been an even stronger carrier-level performance.

On the country-pairing side, China–USA and South Korea–USA lanes clearly strengthened, supported by higher traffic levels passing through Anchorage. Meanwhile, USA–Hong Kong and USA–South Korea routes experienced weaker demand, creating a more uneven picture across the North Asian markets. Together, these dynamics shaped November into a month of growth driven by selective but significant pockets of activity.

Looking at the broader year-to-date picture, Kalitta Air has accumulated 4,031 landings so far this year, an 18% increase, while Atlas Air remains far ahead with 7,200 landings, rising 8%. EVA Air has handled 1,545 landings since January, up 20%, reflecting consistent performance throughout the year.

On the country-pairing front, Hong Kong to the United States has seen 3,394 landings year-to-date, though this figure is down 22% from last year. USA to China traffic, however, has strengthened with 2,222 landings so far, up 22%. Movements from the United States to Taiwan reached 1,291 for the year, marking a significant 25% rise. These year-to-date trends show how different market corridors have evolved, with some firmly in recovery while others continue to see reduced activity.

Turning to city-pair connections, the busiest eastbound links through Anchorage in November were Taipei to New York and Shanghai to Miami, which ranked first and second on the dashboard’s eastbound list. On the westbound side, the busiest connections were Chicago to Taipei and Chicago to Hong Kong, topping the westbound rankings. These city-pair movements highlight the specific long-haul routings that generated the most reliance on Anchorage in November.