Feb. 10, 2003

For more information contact:
Roy Criss
515-239-1689
roy.criss@dot.state.ia.us

Airfreight movement in Iowa increasing

AMES, Iowa -  The Iowa Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation reports that airfreight movement in Iowa has outpaced the national rate in the last 20 years. Iowa has seen nearly a 600 percent increase in air cargo since 1980, from 22,568 to 155,758 tons. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports a national increase of 200 percent from 1980 to 2000.

These substantial increases are the result of more cargo being transported on flights dedicated to freight movement. Prior to the 1980s, passenger carriers with limited cargo space handled most airfreight.

Airports that have accommodated facilities/services dedicated to airfreight movement have been rewarded for their forward thinking. Iowa’s central geographical location, coupled with its highway and rail systems, positions the state to be a leader in intermodal cargo handling.

Iowa’s air transportation system contributes $834 million annually to the state’s economy and supports nearly 10,000 jobs. Air cargo plays a significant role in this contribution, with Des Moines International and Eastern Iowa (Cedar Rapids) airports representing 99 percent of the state’s total cargo handling. Des Moines reported 124,048 tons in 2000 and the Eastern Iowa Airport reported 32,279 tons.

For more information regarding Iowa’s air transportation system, visit iawings.com.

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