Dallas Fort Worth International Airport moved one million US tons of cargo in calendar year 2021.

The airport said the milestone was achieved as a result of “ongoing shifts in the global supply chain, including a modal shift from ocean to air freight”.

Dallas Fort Worth said it had also worked to streamline processes and gain efficiencies, “avoiding the congestion seen at other major air cargo gateways”. It noted that investing in systems that accelerate digitisation of the cargo ecosystem, such as the ‘DFW Cargo Cloud’, was a key part of its strategy.

The DFW Cloud is an open-architecture digital data-sharing platform that allows cargo community members to seamlessly and securely exchange data, reduce paperwork and facilitate efficient transactions and handoffs between partners.

The airport said the milestone achieved in 2021 was significant “because of its impact on the local economy as well as being an indicator of growth for the airport and the North Texas region”.

“This milestone along with strategic investments in our cargo business elevates [the airport’s] position as an innovative leader in air cargo and a key logistics hub in the global supply chain,” said executive vice president of global strategies John Ackerman. “With the development of new airside cargo facilities and infrastructure, and with an ideal, mid-continent geographic location that allows our customers to reduce transit times and increase speed and efficiency, [the airport] is poised for future growth.”

Dallas Fort Worth is due to begin construction of two new air cargo buildings later this year, with an additional eight category six aircraft parking positions.