by Jonson Kuhn

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is positioning for significant cargo expansion in 2026, with nearly $160 million in infrastructure projects set to come online even as global trade tensions reshape trans-Pacific shipping routes. 

According to a 2025 Alaska International Airport System Biannual report, three major developments — a $42 million FedEx domestic sorting facility, a $75 million Alaska Cargo & Cold Storage complex and NorthLink Aviation's cargo operation with Cathay Pacific as anchor tenant — are all expected to be operational by summer 2026. The investments signal confidence in Alaska's role as a global logistics hub despite challenges in international trade.

"Anchorage is really recognized globally as a cargo leader because of our strategic location," said Teri Lindseth, Alaska National Airport System Development Manager. "We offer these great, efficient gas and go tech stops to a lot of carriers that are carrying heavy cargo loads or even lighter loads, but it provides that opportunity to carry less fuel and higher payloads for their cargo if they fly to and from Asia to North America."

The expansion, according to the report, comes as ANC's cargo operations grew 3%. That growth occurred even as passenger traffic declined 7%, in addition to evolving tariff policies forcing carriers to adjust operations.

"Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is experiencing unprecedented growth in interstate passenger traffic. Our research shows ANC leading all medium and large hub airports in the nation with more than an 11 percent year-over-year increase in seat capacity during the first half of 2026," Lindseth said. "This growth reflects strong demand for travel between Alaska and the Lower 48 and reinforces ANC's role as a critical national gateway."

The AIAS biannual report notes "evolving tariff policies have been a notable consideration for cargo activity" and "shifts in global trade dynamics — particularly in the trans-Pacific market — have prompted some adjustments by carriers and freight forwarders."

Despite these headwinds, Lindseth said, private investment continues. She added between 2023 and 2024, the airport processed over $3.5 million cargo metric tons, a 7.6% increase.

"We do have a lot of interest from integrators and third-party developers developing warehousing facilities here at Anchorage International, along with cargo apron hard stands," Lindseth said.

ANC's strategic position near polar great-circle routes — the shortest flight paths between distant points, following the curve of the planet over or near the poles — allows carriers to shorten transit times and reduce fuel burn for trans-Arctic and North Pacific services.

"We can reach up to 90% of the industrialized world within 9 and 1/2 hours," Lindseth said. "[ANC also has] three runways, and they are all over 10,000 feet, which is a number that's very significant to the aviation community."

As of 2024, ANC ranks fourth in the world for cargo throughput — behind Hong Kong, Shanghai and Memphis — and second in the United States. Cargo carriers and integrators use ANC as a sorting, transfer and onward-distribution center for goods moving between Asia and North America.

"We also have very efficient turnaround times, and we're open 24/7; we have never closed for operational impacts," Lindseth said. "We have no flight curfews for any of the airports in Alaska. However, we do have very strategic flight paths to make sure that we're not disturbing our community and surrounding neighborhoods."

Lindseth added one of the distinctive operational advantages at ANC is its liberal cargo transfer rights, which allow flexibility not commonly permitted at most U.S. airports.

"[Liberal cargo transfer rights allow] for a foreign carrier to transfer cargo between aircraft, combine shipments if they needed to, even change aircraft or carriers here while they're on the ground," Lindseth said. "This is something that's not permitted at most US airports." 

The Alaska International Airport System operates as a two-airport network, with Fairbanks International Airport serving as a complementary backup to Anchorage — a redundancy that becomes critical during weather events or operational disruptions.

"Capacity, redundancy and flexibility, those are the three words that I want to highlight," Lindseth said. "Anchorage and Fairbanks really work complementary to one another. By being both of the airports in the system, we're offering carriers increased capacity, redundancy and flexibility. So when they're leaving Asia and crossing over the Pacific, if there's a particular weather pattern in Anchorage, they know that Fairbanks is just a couple of minutes further. They're going to have infrastructure. They'll be ready and accepting them within a moment's notice."

The cargo operations have a significant economic impact on Alaska. Lindseth noted one in seven people who live in Anchorage work at the airport.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, ANC is investing in infrastructure and sustainability initiatives to remain competitive and environmentally responsible.

The airport recently completed a 20-year master plan and is launching its first-ever sustainability plan in 2025, with implementation extending into 2026. Initiatives include:

• Planning and adoption programs for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
• Energy-efficient terminal upgrades and green building measures
• Programs to monitor and reduce carbon emissions from airport operations
• Integration of advanced technologies to improve air-traffic management and cargo handling

"We have our master plan, which is just wrapping up, and that is a 20-year blueprint as to how we foresee the airport developing and making sure that we can operate safely and that we have the infrastructure in place to handle our operations," Lindseth said. "We do forecast an increase of cargo growth at about 1.9% in that forecast."

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities is also conducting a feasibility study on producing, transporting, storing and using SAF at ANC, with the goal of supporting the U.S. aviation industry's target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

With the 1.9% annual cargo growth forecast and major infrastructure coming online in 2026, ANC is positioned to maintain its status as a critical node in global logistics networks — even as international trade dynamics continue to evolve.

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