U.S. Air Cargo Routes and Airport Hubs
An enterprise database of domestic air cargo routes, major cargo hub airports, and air freight corridors that enable time-definite shipping across the continental United States and to international destinations.
Major U.S. Cargo Airports
The U.S. air cargo network centers on dedicated cargo hub airports operated by integrated express carriers, supplemented by cargo facilities at major passenger airports. These facilities handle sorting, transshipment, and ground distribution operations.
Memphis International Airport
Key Characteristics
- Largest cargo airport in North America by volume
- FedEx global superhub with 99 gates
- Overnight sorting for next-day delivery network
- Strategic central U.S. location within 2-hour flight of 75% of population
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Ted Stevens Anchorage International
Key Characteristics
- Strategic refueling stop for Asia-North America routes
- Equidistant from major Asian and U.S. markets
- Cargo sorting and trans-shipment hub
- Critical for time-sensitive trans-Pacific freight
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Louisville Muhammad Ali International
Key Characteristics
- UPS global air hub with 155 aircraft gates
- Largest fully-automated package handling facility
- Processes 2 million packages nightly
- Central location for overnight ground coverage
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Miami International Airport
Key Characteristics
- Top U.S. airport for international freight
- Gateway for Latin American and Caribbean trade
- Major perishables import hub
- Free Trade Zone operations
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Los Angeles International Airport
Key Characteristics
- Largest West Coast cargo airport
- Primary Pacific Rim trade gateway
- Integrated with LA/Long Beach port complex
- High-tech and consumer electronics imports
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Chicago O'Hare International
Key Characteristics
- Major domestic transshipment point
- Central location for national distribution
- Strong belly cargo from passenger flights
- Intermodal rail connectivity
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
Key Characteristics
- DHL Express Americas superhub
- Amazon Air significant operations
- Growing e-commerce fulfillment center
- Overnight coverage to eastern U.S. population centers
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Indianapolis International Airport
Key Characteristics
- FedEx second-largest U.S. hub
- Crossroads of America geographic advantage
- Growing e-commerce operations
- Pharmaceutical and life sciences focus
Primary Operator
Key Route Pairs
Domestic Air Freight Corridors
Major domestic air cargo routes connect population centers, manufacturing regions, and distribution hubs. These corridors carry time-sensitive freight requiring overnight or same-day transit that ground transportation cannot provide.
| Corridor | Endpoints |
|---|---|
Transcontinental Express FedEx, UPS, United Cargo | LAX/SFO ↔ JFK/EWR |
Pacific-Midwest Corridor FedEx, UPS, United Cargo | LAX/SFO ↔ ORD |
East Coast Shuttle FedEx, UPS, Delta Cargo | BOS ↔ ATL ↔ MIA |
Texas Triangle Southwest Cargo, American Cargo, FedEx | DFW ↔ IAH ↔ AUS/SAT |
Hub-Spoke Networks FedEx (MEM), UPS (SDF), DHL (CVG) | MEM/SDF ↔ National |
Pacific Northwest Alaska Cargo, FedEx, UPS | SEA ↔ LAX/SFO |
Air Cargo Carrier Coverage
Air cargo capacity is provided through three primary carrier categories: integrated express carriers with dedicated freighter fleets, all-cargo airlines, and passenger airlines offering belly cargo services.
Integrated Express Carriers
Carriers operating dedicated freighter fleets with guaranteed time-definite delivery services.
All-Cargo Airlines
Dedicated freighter operators providing charter, ACMI, and scheduled cargo services.
Passenger Airline Cargo
Belly cargo capacity on passenger aircraft, providing wide route network coverage.