Research & Reports

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Economic Impact Study

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) plays a critical role in Alaska’s transportation network, connecting the state to the Lower 48 and hundreds of communities not accessible by road to Anchorage. Located just 9.5 hours from 90% of the industrialized world, the airport is also part of a global supply chain bringing goods from international markets into the United States.

In 2021, 93,269 commercial aircraft landings took place at ANC, including 54,864 (59%) all-cargo aircraft and 38,405 (41%) all-passenger or passenger/cargo combination landings, a 5% increase in traffic over average annual traffic prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANC was the 4th busiest cargo airport in the world in 2021, with 3.7 million metric tons of cargo enplaned, deplaned, or transited through the airport. Cargo flown via ANC is shipped to 83 communities across Alaska, 42 destinations in the Lower 48, and 16 international countries. ANC is an important stop for cargo planes bringing goods from Asia to North America. In 2021, 51% of cargo flown from Asia to North America transited ANC, originating in Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taiwan, among many other Asian cities.