Air Cargo at SEA — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (October 30, 2025)
Summary
A slide presentation titled Air Cargo at SEA, dated October 30, 2025, is presented by Tom Green, Sr. Manager, Air Cargo Operations & Development, for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It states that the 2024 total value of international air cargo through SEA Airport was $26.3 Billion, with $15.7B in exports and $10.6B in imports. The slides state that in 2024, 30% of all cargo flew in the bellies of passenger aircraft and 70% traveled by freighter, and that international freighter tonnage decreased 22% in 2024 as belly tonnage surged by 24%. For year-to-date 2025 through July, total trade value was up 18.5%, with imports up 61% and exports down 7.5%.
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- Issuer
- Congressional materials
- Document type
- 2025 10 30 A33484 D289834 Port Of Seattle Toshiko Hasegawa Tom Green Air Cargo At Sea
- Date
- 2025-10-30
- Case
- 2025 10 30 A33484 D289834 Port Of Seattle Toshiko Hasegawa Tom Green Air Cargo At Sea
Cite this document
“Air Cargo at SEA — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (October 30, 2025).”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2025-10-30. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-10-30-2025-10-30-a33484-d289834-port-of-seattle-toshiko-hasegawa-tom-green-air-cargo-at-sea/
, SHA-256 38430eed920fd746c53a38edf1e605efabaedad884d6144a6bc70660deb74945.Full text
Air Cargo
at SEA
October 30, 2025
Tom Green
Sr. Manager,
Air Cargo Operations &
Development
2
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
3
Air Cargo Important to Trade, Aviation & Jobs
Air cargo has a unique role in global trade
• Less than 1% of reported world trade tonnage is carried by air cargo
• 35% of reported world trade value is carried by air cargo
Air cargo represents an important revenue source for airlines
• Revenue from cargo can make the difference on route profitability
• Revenue from cargo defrays passenger ticket costs
Air cargo, part of the trade and logistics supply chain, supports employment
• Industry sources estimate each 1,000 metric tons of air cargo generates 10 – 15 jobs
systemwide
• For an airport equivalent to SEA that represents 4,600 - 6,900 direct jobs
8
Air Cargo 2024
Total Value of
International Air Cargo
(through SEA Airport):
$26.3 Billion
• $15.7B Exports
• $10.6B Imports
9
SEA launched 6 new international services in 2025
And has already announced 6 new services so far for 2026
2025
KELOWNA
TOKYO-NARITA
COPENHAGEN
ZURICH
SEOUL
SOUTH AMERICA
2026
ROME
ROME
BARCELONA
LONDON
Aer Lingus ● AeroLogic ● Aeromexico ● Air Canada ● Air France ● Air Tahiti Nui* ● Alaska ● ANA REYKJAVIK
Asiana ● British Airways ● Cargolux ● Cathay Pacific ● China Airlines ● Condor ● Delta ● Edelweiss
Emirates ● EVA ● Finnair ● Hainan ● Icelandair ● Japan Airlines ● Korean ● LATAM ● Lufthansa HONG KONG
Philippine Airlines ● Qatar ● SAS ● Singapore ● Starlux ● Turkish ● Virgin Atlantic ● Volaris ● WestJet
*Note: Ends January 2026
10
Air Cargo Statistics
Airline reported data
• Data is reported monthly by airlines in metric tons
• Enplaned/deplaned, domestic/international trade lanes
• Reports indicate whether freight carried by belly or freighter
• In 2024, 30% of all cargo flew in the bellies of passenger aircraft; 70% traveled by freighter
• The belly ratio was historically higher (close to 40% in 2016) but reached a low of 22% in 2020
• In 2024, 65% of international cargo flew in the bellies of passenger aircraft; 35% traveled by freighter
• International freighter tonnage decreased 22% in 2024, as belly tonnage surged by 24%
• Through August 2025 the belly share now exceeds 70%
• More than 85% of imports in 2025 through August have been carried as belly freight
• International air cargo trade flows are heavily reliant on belly capacity
• Passenger trends dictate belly capacity, which has increased with the launch of new passenger services
• Belly capacity at risk when passenger demand declines or services are curtailed
• Airline reported data is not very informative about WA state trade partners
Air Cargo Statistics
Commercially available federal data
• Data is aggregated from US Customs reports – by tons or $ value
• Can be searched by trade partner country and commodity type
• Does not indicate how cargo is flown (belly or freighter) or by which airline
➢ 2024 international trade value was $26.3 billion – an increase of 44% over 2023
➢By value 40% imports (+45% over 2023) / 60% exports (+43% over 2023)
➢By weight 45% imports (+16% over 2023) / 55% exports (+10% over 2023)
• Year-to-date 2025 (through July) total trade value +18.5%
• Imports up 61%, Exports down 7.5%
• Import taxes should in theory depress import demand
• Tariff uncertainty fueling year-to-date surge in demand, augmented by capacity growth at SEA
• De minimis duty free exemption eliminated
2024 Air Cargo International Trade Through SEA
Top Washington State Global Trade Partners
Taiwan
Malaysia
Vietnam
China
United Kingdom
Japan
Germany
South Korea
Netherlands
Ireland
$- $1,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000
Millions of Dollars
Total Import Export
13
Thank You
Operated by the
Port of Seattle
FlySEA.org
File and source
- File
- 2025-10-30_a33484_d289834_port-of-seattle-toshiko-hasegawa-tom-green-air-cargo-at-sea-.pdf
- Size
- 5,276,751 bytes
- SHA-256
- 38430eed920fd746c53a38edf1e605efabaedad884d6144a6bc70660deb74945
- Original
- app.leg.wa.gov