Click on the image above for a larger view that you can print or download. For your easy reference, here’s a simple and quick list just by name:

Rank Airport
1 MEMPHIS (MEM)
2 HONG KONG (HKG)
3 SHANGHAI (PVG)
4 INCHEON (ICN)
5 PARIS (CDG)
6 ANCHORAGE (ANC)*
7 LOUISVILLE (SDF)
8 DUBAI (DXB)
9 FRANKFURT (FRA)
10 TOKYO (NRT)
11 SINGAPORE (SIN)
12 MIAMI (MIA)
13 LOS ANGELES (LAX)
14 BEIJING (PEK)
15 TAIPEI (TPE)
16 LONDON (LHR)
17 AMSTERDAM (AMS)
18 NEW YORK (JFK)
19 CHICAGO (ORD)
20 BANGKOK (BKK)
21 GUANGZHOU (CAN)
22 INDIANAPOLIS (IND)
23 NEWARK (EWR)
24 TOKYO (HND)
25 LUXEMBOURG (LUX)
26 OSAKA (KIX)
27 SHENZHEN (SZX)
28 KUALA LUMPUR (KUL)
29 DALLAS/FORTWORTH (DFW)
30 MUMBAI (BOM)

Via www.aa.com:

“At American Airlines Cargo we are focused on maintaining and rewarding customer loyalty. We believe the enhanced Business ExtrAA program for AA Cargo provides an excellent way to add value and to let our customers know how much we appreciate their business,” said Dave Brooks, President – American Airlines Cargo Division.

Customers can earn 2,000 points for every $40,000 USD in eligible shipping revenue on American Airlines up to an annual maximum of 200,000 points.

A majority of the layoffs will come from the airline’s freight division.

With regard to cargo, which has been severely impacted by the steep decline in world trade, a restructuring plan is underway, including a much more significant reduction in capacity (of some 15%), also aimed at improving the load factor.

Source – Air France press release

Via Delta.com:

“This strategic partnership puts us in a good position compared with other major alliances, which are extremely active on the world’s leading long-haul market. By integrating our trans-Atlantic operations, we will give our passengers what they desire: more choice, more frequencies, more convenient flight schedules and superior customer service,” said Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, president and CEO of Air France KLM. “By optimizing the use of our pooled resources, this joint venture will help us weather the current economic situation and protect our product offering.”

News of the joint venture came just weeks after Delta announced the grounding of the entire Northwest freighter fleet. The new JV will provide Delta with access to the freighter equipment of Air France, KLM and Martinair.

Here are the highlights of the JV from Delta’s official press release:

* More than 200 daily transatlantic flights (100 roundtrips)
* The joint venture represents approximately 25 percent of total trans-Atlantic capacity.
* Over 400 destinations in Europe and in North America
* Annual revenues estimated at more than US$12 billion (approximately 9.3 billion euros, reference year 2008/09).
* Over 100,000 employees at Air France KLM
* 70,000 employees at Delta
* The venture is a long-term, evergreen arrangement that can only be cancelled with a three year notice, after an initial term of 10 years.

Cargoitalia told Augusto Fantozzi, Alitalia’s bankruptcy commissioner, that the sale must be completed by March 9. It said it would hire 15 pilots within one month of closing the deal and another 15 pilots for each MD-11 that enters the fleet over the next two years.

Airbus is reducing the production rates of its A320 family programme from 36 to 34 a month from October onwards, but the European planemaker said 2009 delivery targets will not be affected.
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Production rates of the A330/A340 family will be paused at the current level of 8.5 a month, and not increased further as previously planned.
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Airbus achieved a record high of 483 deliveries in 2008 and aims to achieve a similar figure in 2009. Today’s precautionary measure will not affect the 2009 Airbus delivery target.

With a backlog of more than 3,600 aircraft, and the Power 8 improvement programme making good progress, Airbus is in a position to face up to the short-term challenges posed by the downturn whilst preparing for a strong future.

Having a backlog of production is a good thing in this economy, but regardless Airbus is still looking to save money. Slowing production means less work for workers now.

His advice for chief executive officers was to be optimistic and to assume that the “bottle of wine is half-full not half-empty” but to also be realistic. “They will have to make some tough decisions this year, which may include having to get rid of some employees, automate some processes and invest in areas that they wouldn’t normally think of investing in.”

While 2009 may have to be forgotten about for making a profit, he advised, it is vital to prepare for 2010 and be ready to take immediate advantage of opportunities when the market recovers next year.

Good luck with that. I have a bad feeling the air cargo industry is in for a prolonged downturn. Many companies that are or will be switching to ocean freight to cut costs will find it difficult from a cost perspective to return to air freight. Some of them are making significant changes in their supply chains that may not take air cargo into account at all.

Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777 freighter can fly 4,880 nautical miles (9,038 km) with a full payload of 226,700 pounds (103 metric tons). It is expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing converted freighter (BCF) in the Air France Cargo fleet. Air France currently operates five 747-400ER freighters and four 747-400BCFs.

“The 777-F uses less fuel per cargo tonne than any freighter operating,” said Aldo Basile, vice president, sales, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the 777F, Air France also will experience the lowest maintenance costs and the lowest trip costs of any large freighter, as well as outstanding environmental performance.”

Certainly some good news amongst all the doom-and-gloom in the Airline industry. Here’s more on the 777F from Boeing:

The airplane’s range capability will translate into significant savings for cargo operators: fewer stops and associated landing fees, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.

The 777 Freighter will feature capacity never seen before on a twin-engine freighter, accommodating 27 standard pallets (96 in x 125 in; 2.5 m x 3 m) on the main deck. The industry-standard 10-foot-high (3.1 m) pallets will be accommodated by the large main deck cargo door that will make use of the airplane’s volume capability. The lower cargo hold has the capacity for 10 pallets, as well as 600 cubic feet (17.0 cubic meters) of additional bulk cargo.

For comparison’s sake, the standard 747-400 freighter, which I imagine are comparable to Air France’s 747-400BCFs, carry 124 tons up to 4450 nautical miles. With less fuel per cargo tonne on the 777F and the extra mileage, the 777F should definitely be an improvement. If Boeing’s claims are true, then AF should save in the long run. This also creates a possible opportunity for other cargo carriers looking to supplement their fleet with AF’s used 747-400BCFs. Other carriers out there who may not be able to afford brand new 777F but looking to upgrade their cargo capabilities could strike a deal for AF’s older aircraft. Although in this depressed air cargo market, there probably aren’t any current buyers.

“The 13.5% drop in international cargo is shocking. As air cargo handles 35% of the value of goods traded internationally, it clearly shows the rapid fall in global trade and the broadening impact of the economic slowdown. By comparison, this is largest drop since 2001, in the aftermath of September 11,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“The industry is now shrinking by all measures. The 1.0% capacity cut in international passenger markets in November could not keep pace with the 4.6% fall in passenger demand. We can expect deep losses in the fourth quarter,” said Bisignani.