In 2021, travelers passed through the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in droves. More than 4.5 million people traversed the terminals demonstrating a strong return to regular air travel. Approximately 2 million more passengers passed through ANC, a 93% increase from 2020. ANC expects travel to further rebound in 2022. As of now, summer seat capacity in the Anchorage market is 6% higher than pre-pandemic summer of 2019.
“Alaskan tourism businesses welcomed the increase in travelers to Alaska and the positive impact their visits had on our tourism industry and the economy after tourism across the globe was at a standstill in 2020,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy. “The state partnered with the tourism industry in early 2021 to market Alaska as a COVID-safe destination. The 93 percent increase in travelers over 2020 shows how strongly our great state resonates with visitors eager to travel. Last December, my administration announced a second grant to the recovering $4.5 billion Alaska tourism industry, so we anticipate moving beyond recovery and onto a banner tourism season this summer.”
ANC’s international non-stops are back for summer 2022; Air Canada-Vancouver, Canada; Icelandair-Reykjavik, Iceland; Yakutia Airlines-Petropavlovsk, Russia; and Condor-Frankfurt, Germany. Additionally, Eurowings Discovery will be a new airline at ANC this summer, offering additional non-stop service between Frankfurt, Germany. The Frankfurt airport offers easy connections to markets throughout Europe and large markets in Africa.
Air Cargo Sets Another Record
ANC, handled approximately 3.6 million metric tons of air cargo in 2021, breaking its record for cargo volume by 14%, or just over 400,000 metric tons. The previous record was set in 2020.
“For the second year in a row, ANC is seeing record volumes of air cargo. ANC is a critical hub for the world’s economic growth. As air cargo continues to grow, ANC is working with the private sector to provide the infrastructure necessary to capture transpacific growth. This growth will only add to the exiting economic activity and jobs that ANC provides for Alaskans,” said Jim Szczesniak, airport director for ANC, who is departing ANC for new opportunities. “Our airport will continue to attract business and strengthen Alaska’s economy.”
Anchorage is strategically located between the world’s two largest economies and a 9.5-hour flight from 90% of the industrialized world. ANC is home to hubs for UPS and FedEx and has five major cargo expansion projects in development.
