Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – which is served by 13 all-cargo carriers – has posted upswings in year-over-year cargo traffic for three consecutive months.

Airport officials said cargo traffic in November 2009 was 3.5 per cent higher than in November 2008; December 2009 traffic was 17.9 per cent higher than the previous year; and January 2010 saw an increase of 12.1 per cent over January 2009.

“It’s very encouraging to report three consecutive months of rising cargo traffic, especially after experiencing one of the worst global economic downturns in recent history,” said Aviation general manager Ben DeCosta. “We anticipate that 2010 will be a year of ‘measured recovery’ throughout the industry. We hope for a full recovery in 2012-2013.”

Hartsfield-Jackson’s fourth-quarter turnaround was marked by a resurgence in global imports in all areas, including freight/express and mail. In November 2009, international imports for freight/ express operations were 18.5 per cent higher than in 2008, while international freight/express imports were up 36.4 per cent in December over the previous year and up 27.67 per cent in January over the previous year.