Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport (ATL), in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Atlanta Air Cargo Association, celebrated year-on-year achievements in airfreight at the annual ATL Cargo Awards. The luncheon, held at the airport’s North Cargo facility, honoured businesses and individuals who work to make ATL a “powerful leader in the industry” while highlighting continued growth in cargo operations.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of cargo employees, freight forwarders, ground handlers, partner airlines and trucking companies, Hartsfield-Jackson’s upward trajectory in the air cargo industry is without question and without abatement,” ATL senior deputy general manager Michael Smith told a crowd of more than 200 attendees.
Air cargo employs at least 27,000 employees and creates some $7 billion for the local economy. In 2017, the airport saw 685,000 tonnes of cargo moved, up nearly six per cent on 2016’s total.
During the luncheon, ATL officials called attention to the “airport’s growing roster of cargo carriers”. One all-cargo operated started at the airport in 2017 while the officials revealed the airport has the ambition to be in the top tier of US airports for cargo volume.
Five companies and one individual were honoured:
• Cargo Airline of the Year: Qatar Airways
• Belly Cargo Airline of the Year: Delta Air Lines
• All-Cargo Airline of the Year: FedEx Express
• Cargo Employee of the Year: Danielle Robinson
• Freight Forwarder of the Year: Kintetsu World Express
• Trucking Company of the Year: J&P Hall Express
