Global air cargo traffic surged in 2024, but shifting trade patterns, geopolitical tensions, and e-commerce demand are redrawing the airport rankings and redefining their roles in supply chains.
In a year marked by maritime disruptions, nearshoring shifts, and the relentless pace of e-commerce, the world’s busiest cargo airports have seen sharp changes in both volumes and rankings in 2024. From Dubai’s leap into the top tier to Istanbul’s rapid ascent, Guangzhou’s e-commerce boom, and Miami’s Latin American strength, airports are adapting to a volatile trade landscape. The transformations are not only geographic; they signal an evolution in how airports operate and position themselves for the future.
Global air cargo made a rebound in 2024, with airports worldwide handling close to 127 million metric tonnes, up 9.9% from the previous year and 4.1% above 2019 volumes. According to the 2025 Edition of World Airport Traffic Dataset released by Airports Council International (ACI) World, the world’s top 20 cargo hubs together processed 52.2 million tonnes, marking a 9% year-on-year jump and 10.8% growth over pre-pandemic levels.
This resurgence was driven by a mix of macro and market forces: disruptions to maritime routes pushed shippers towards faster and more reliable air transport; cross-border e-commerce demand surged as consumers pressed for quicker deliveries; and falling jet fuel costs made air freight more competitive than in recent years.
ACI Airport Cargo Rankings 2024
Hong Kong (HKG) retained its crown as the world’s busiest cargo airport, handling nearly 4.94 million tonnes, up 14.1% from 2023, followed by Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Memphis (MEM). But the biggest leap in the rankings came from Dubai International Airport (DXB).
DXB delivered one of the most dramatic jumps in 2024 ACI cargo rankings, climbing from 17th place in 2023 to 11th in 2024. The airport handled 2.18 million tonnes of cargo, a 20.5% surge year-on-year, though still 13.4% below its pre-pandemic volumes.
“The Red Sea situation pushed a lot of urgent cargo from sea to air, and Dubai was well positioned to catch that shift. Emirates SkyCargo also played it smart.”
Sebastien Podgorski, WebCargo by Freightos
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
While its strategic geographical location, centrally positioned with connections to multiple continents, is frequently cited, other elements have also played a key role in establishing DXB as a leading terminal, particularly for transit cargo.
Holger Ketz, SVP Global Head of Network & Carrier Manager – Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, highlighted Dubai’s reputation for “efficient and time-sensitive customs procedures” as a critical advantage, especially for multimodal solutions like sea-air or air-road.
He reported that many of Kuehne+Nagel’s customers who had traditionally relied on sea logistics shifted to sea-air solutions via DXB due to Red Sea disruptions, “seeking a balance between cost and speed.”
“Following the decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, cargo volumes at DXB began a steady recovery between 2020 and 2023. More recently, disruptions caused by the Red Sea conflict prompted a further surge in volumes,” he said.
Total freight handled by UAE Airports from 2018 to 2024. (Source Trade and Transport Group)
While Dubai was well positioned to catch that shift, according to Sebastien Podgorski, VP, Airline Solutions, WebCargo by Freightos, Emirates SkyCargo also played it smart.
“They’ve been rebuilding their freighter network and leaning into high-demand markets. On top of that, we’ve seen some volume shift back from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to DXB, especially with more belly capacity coming online,” he said.
Meanwhile, Frederic Horst, Managing Director, Trade and Transport Group, pointed to European inbound trade statistics showing “30% increase in volumes coming through the UAE,” confirming the rise in sea-air conversions triggered by the Red Sea disruptions.
Emirates SkyCargo also reported a 7.4% increase in freight tonnes for the 12 months ending March 2025, though Horst cautioned that overall traffic levels remain 12–15% below 2018/19 benchmarks.
Beyond its current momentum, DXB’s cargo landscape is set for further transformation with the planned expansion of DWC, which aims to boost its annual cargo capacity from around 1 million tonnes to 12 million tonnes in the coming years.
While Dubai’s climb was the most striking in this year’s table, Istanbul International Airport (IST) also made a remarkable move. IST has cemented its position as one of the fastest-rising cargo hubs in the world, climbing from 47th in 2019 to 19th in 2023 and to 17th in the 2024 ACI rankings. The airport handled nearly 1.98 million tonnes of cargo last year, representing a 23.8% year-on-year increase and an extraordinary 289.6% surge compared to 2019 volumes.
“Many of Kuehne+Nagel’s customers who had traditionally relied on sea logistics shifted to sea-air solutions via DXB, seeking a balance between cost and speed.”
Holger Ketz, Kuehne+Nagel
Istanbul International Airport (IST)
“Istanbul’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with direct flight connections to most continents, is a key driver behind the steady rise in cargo volumes handled in the city,” said Ketz.
He noted that the opening of the new Istanbul Airport accelerated this growth, with cutting-edge cargo facilities capable of handling temperature-sensitive and perishable goods, significant storage capacity, and future plans to link with seaports to bolster transit operations.
Podgorski credited the national carrier for maximising the opportunity.
“Turkish Cargo deserves a lot of credit. They’ve been expanding aggressively and took full advantage of the move from Atatürk to the new Istanbul Airport. That gave them room to grow and consolidate operations.”
According to Frederic Horst, Managing Director of Trade and Transport Group, all volumes have been routed through the new airport since 2022, and the results are striking.
“Istanbul cargo volumes are now almost 50% higher than in 2018. During this period, Turkish Cargo experienced 40% growth in traffic. Other carriers like MNG are also moving more traffic,” he said.
While Middle Eastern airports like Dubai, Istanbul and Doha have been standout performers in the past year, China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) also made significant gains, leaping from 17th place in 2029 to 11th in 2023 to 9th in 2024, with a 17.3% year-on-year growth and a 24% increase over 2019 volumes.
“As long as trade policy remains volatile there will be a lot of shifting volumes. The surge in volumes from Vietnam and Taiwan could well be replaced by surges elsewhere.”
Frederic Horst, Trade and Transport Group
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Ketz noted that CAN’s momentum is supported by a diverse mix of high-volume sectors.
“E-commerce continues to be a major contributor with players like Shein and Temu generating substantial volumes,” he said.
“The healthcare industry also plays a significant role, given its need for reliable and time-sensitive logistics. Additionally, the movement of perishables remains a consistent driver of throughput.”
Podgorski pointed directly to the strength of the e-commerce boom.
“Guangzhou’s doing well thanks to China’s e-commerce boom. Companies like Shein and Temu are pumping out high volumes of small parcels that need to move fast, and air is the way to go.”
Total freight handled by Chinese Airports from 2018 to 2024. (Source: Trade and Transport Group)
Horst provided a broader market view, noting that “overall Chinese international and domestic air cargo traffic has performed well in the first half of this year.”
He observed shifts in trade flows, with more intra-Asia and Asia–Europe volumes and a drop in traffic to the US.
“Incidentally, overall Transpac air trade (excluding cross-border e-commerce) is actually up this year, particularly in Vietnam and Taiwan. The drop from China has more than been made up for by other markets. A lot of that, of course, is related to inventory pulled forward to get ahead of potential tariff increases.”
While Chinese official data reported a 21% year-on-year increase in international freight traffic in the first half, Horst cautioned that airport-level figures suggest more subdued growth.
As CAN strengthened its position, the rankings for US cargo gateways saw notable shifts: Memphis (MEM), once firmly entrenched in second place globally, slipped to third this year, handling 3.75 million tonnes, a 3.3% year-on-year decline and 13.2% drop compared to 2019. In contrast, MIA held its 7th position while moving 2.75 million tonnes, up 9% from 2023 and 31.6% above pre-pandemic levels.
“Miami’s significant surge underscores its robust position as a critical gateway for traditional freight forwarders, particularly within the Latin American trade lane.”
Brandon Fried, Airforwarders Association (AfA)
Memphis (MEM) and Miami (MIA)
According to Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA), “The contrasting performance of Memphis and Miami signifies profound structural changes in U.S. air cargo, particularly concerning changing e-commerce dynamics, regional specialisation, and the interplay between integrator and forwarder operations.”
On Memphis’s decline, Fried pointed to strategic shifts in the integrated express carrier model.
“The observed decline in Memphis, despite broader air cargo growth, points to strategic adjustments within the integrated express carrier model. Major integrators are optimising their networks, prioritising higher-margin cargo, and potentially reducing overall flight hours. This implies a more selective approach to e-commerce volumes, in light of changes in the de minimis low-value clearances, with some lower-yield shipments perhaps being diverted to other modes or managed differently. The focus is on maximising efficiency and profitability within their proprietary networks.”
Miami’s performance told a different story.
“Miami’s significant surge underscores its robust position as a critical gateway for traditional freight forwarders, particularly within the Latin American trade lane,” said Fried.
He credited the airport’s extensive network of passenger flights with belly cargo capacity, supported by a diverse mix of all-cargo operators, for giving forwarders “greater flexibility and competitive options beyond the integrated express model.”
MIA’s specialisation in perishables, high-value goods, and nearshoring-driven trade from Latin America has become a key advantage, representing “a strategic pivot by forwarders and airlines to leverage specialised regional connectivity.”
US airports are transforming their role within global supply chains.
Geopolitical events such as the Red Sea crisis have triggered a modal shift for certain high-value and time-sensitive cargo from ocean to air, boosting demand for capacity at U.S. gateways with strong intercontinental links.
“China–U.S. trade tensions and tariffs have instigated shifts in manufacturing locations and trade flows, leading to diversified routing and potentially increased volumes through alternative Asian or Latin American origins into the U.S.,” Fried explained.
The nearshoring trend is proving to be a structural change in hemispheric trade flows.
“This trend represents a significant realignment of global supply chains, fostering a stronger north–south trade axis within the Americas,” Fried noted, adding that it is already driving more air cargo volumes between the U.S. and Latin America. Miami (MIA), with its established connectivity to the region, remains a prime beneficiary.
Texas gateways, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), and Laredo, are also positioned to gain from their strong ground links to Mexico, as more urgent and high-value near-shored goods turn to air freight.
Fried emphasised that these developments are reshaping the very function of U.S. airports.
“U.S. airports are transforming beyond mere transit points into sophisticated multimodal distribution and redistribution hubs. This entails not only facilitating traditional imports and exports but also enabling complex cross-border flows, offering value-added services, and supporting efficient onward distribution via surface transportation.”
How can airports prepare for the future?
As global cargo flows are increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, shifting trade routes, and the diversification of sourcing strategies, experts agree that the airports of the future will need to be far more than just transport nodes.
“It’s definitely not just about runways and warehouses anymore,” said Podgorski.
“Airports in politically stable, strategically located regions like Dubai, Istanbul, and Doha are winning because they’re seen as neutral. Meanwhile, places like Hong Kong or mainland China are more exposed when tensions flare up. Red Sea disruptions have also reshuffled volumes toward alternative hubs in the Gulf or East Africa. So yes, geopolitics is shaping cargo flows just as much as infrastructure. The smartest airports are the ones building flexibility into their operations, whether that’s fast customs, scalable terminals, or multimodal options.”
Horst sees the biggest opportunities emerging from a rebalancing of global trade lanes.
“The biggest opportunities will come for a resurgence of North–South markets which have been neglected over the last years as carriers have essentially just focused on moving cross-border e-commerce traffic between China and the US as well as China to Europe,” he said.
He cautioned that as long as trade policy remains volatile, volumes will continue to shift, requiring “short-term redeployment of equipment,” and that surges from current hotspots like Vietnam and Taiwan “could well be replaced by surges elsewhere.”
For Horst, the key lies in thinking beyond short-term volatility and focusing on “the lanes that are likely to show sustainable growth in the long term.”
Ketz stressed that competitiveness will hinge on adaptability and investment in specialised capabilities.
“To stay competitive, airports must become more adaptable, investing in cold storage, sea–air logistics, digital routing tools, and flexible partnerships. Those that combine geographic advantage with operational flexibility will be best positioned to benefit from ongoing global trade volatility.”
The 2024 rankings underscore how agility, location, and targeted specialisation can propel airports into new competitive territory. Whether by capitalising on geopolitical shifts, mastering regional trade lanes, or investing in flexible infrastructure, leading cargo hubs are proving that success in air freight is no longer about size alone; it’s about being ready for whatever the next disruption brings.
The article was originally published in the August 2025 issue of The STAT Trade Times.
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