air apparent

Southern California's brief reign as the top U.S-based international freight gateway has ended. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was the top international freight gateway (as measured by the value of freight handled) in 2004, displacing the Port of Los Angeles, the top gateway in 2003.

New York outpaced its nearest rival by a $4.3 billion margin. In 2004, JFK handled $125.3 billion worth of freight ($52.7 billion in export trade and $72.6 billion in imports); the Port of Los Angeles handled $121 billion. JFK had been the leading gateway for four years from 1999 to 2002 but was edged out by the Port of Los Angeles in 2003.

A list of the top 50 international freight gateways is available on the DOT's Web site at www.bts.gov.