Freight - Air freight

Overall air cargo tonnage shipped at Washington airports increased 2.6% to 2.1 million tons of cargo (plane plus cargo weight) in 2021 from 2.05 million tons in 2020. Much of this increase was attributed to the 7.5% increase in cargo shipped through Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport between 2020 and 2021.

In 2021, Sea-Tac continued to handle the bulk of air cargo in the state, with 69.5% of the statewide total, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sea-Tac Airport also provides daily, non-stop service to 91 domestic and 27 international destinations. According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac handled approximately 498,741 metric tons of total cargo (not including plane weight) in 2021—an increase of 9.7% from 454,584 in 2020. (Note, due to the different standards of measurement—cargo weight alone rather than cargo and plane weight, these figures differ from those in the statewide tonnage reported above). FedEx was the top cargo carrier out of Sea-Tac in 2021, accounting for 28.9% of all cargo tonnage.

Paine Field experienced a significant reduction in Air cargo tonnage.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a slow economy, overall air cargo shipping at Washington airports increased 2.9% to 2.05 million tons of cargo (plane plus cargo weight) in 2020 from 1.98 million tons in 2019. Much of this increase can be attributed to the 9.5% increase in cargo shipped through Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport between 2019 and 2020.

In 2020, Sea-Tac continued to handle the bulk of all air cargo in the state, with 62.4% of the statewide total according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sea-Tac Airport also provides daily, non-stop service to 91 domestic and 27 international destinations. According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac handled approximately 454,584 metric tons of total cargo (not including plane weight) in 2020—an increase of 0.2% from 453,549 in 2019. (Note, due to the different standard of measurement—cargo weight alone rather than cargo and plane weight, these figures differ from those in the statewide tonnage reported above). FedEx was the top cargo carrier out of Sea-Tac in 2020, accounting for 36.8% of all cargo tonnage.

Paine Field experienced significant reduction in Air cargo tonnage.

In 2019, Washington airports handled 1.98 million tons of cargo (plane plus cargo weight), continuing an upward trend that began in 2013. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, air cargo tonnage grew by 1.9% from 1.95 million tons in 2018. Much of this increase can be attributed to the 21.3% increase in cargo shipped through Paine Field between 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) continued to handle the bulk of all air cargo in the state, with 66.2% of the statewide total according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sea-Tac Airport also provides daily, non-stop service to 91 domestic and 27 international destinations. According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac handled approximately 453,549 metric tons of total cargo (not including plane weight) in 2019—an increase of 4.9% from 432,315 in 2018. (Note, due to the different standard of measurement—cargo weight alone rather than cargo and plane weight, these figures differ from those in the statewide tonnage reported above). FedEx was the top cargo carrier out of Sea-Tac in 2019, accounting for 30.5% of all cargo tonnage.

In 2018, Washington airports handled 1.95 million tons of cargo (plane plus cargo weight), continuing an upward trend that began in 2013. In 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, air cargo tonnage grew by 3.6% from 1.88 million tons in 2017. Much of this increase can be attributed to the 6.5% increase in cargo shipped through Seattle‑Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport between 2017 and 2018.

In 2018, Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) continued to handle the bulk of all air cargo in the state, with 63.2% of the statewide total according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sea-Tac Airport also provides daily, non-stop service to 91 domestic and 27 international destinations. According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac handled approximately 432,315 metric tons of total cargo (not including plane weight) in 2018—an increase of 1.5% from 425,856 in 2017. (Note, due to the different standard of measurement—cargo weight alone rather than cargo and plane weight, these figures differ from those in the statewide tonnage reported above).

In 2017, Washington airports handled 1.88 million tons of cargo (plane plus cargo weight), continuing an upward trend that began in 2013. In 2017, air cargo tonnage grew 12% from the 1.68 million tons in 2016—the largest increase in five years. Much of this increase is attributable to the 23% increase in cargo shipped through Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport in 2017 compared to 2016.

In 2017, Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) continues to handle the bulk of all air cargo in the state, with 61.5% of the statewide total, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sea-Tac Airport ranked 19th in air cargo volume in North America for 2017 (the most recently available data) and provides daily, non-stop service to 91 domestic and 29 international destinations. According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac handled approximately 425,856 metric tons of total cargo (not including plane weight) in 2017—an increase of 16% over 366,000 in 2016. FedEx was the top cargo carrier out of Sea-Tac in 2018, accounting for 32.2% of all cargo tonnage.

In 2017, the top commodities moving through Sea-Tac included industrial machinery (5% of total imports), cherries (4% of total exports) and seafood (2% of total exports). High-value and time-sensitive goods often move through airports, which play a key role in supporting manufacturing, agriculture and service sectors in the state.