Abstract <p>The article analyzes the development of cargo transportation by Russian air carriers in terms of volumes and geographic directions. A comparative analysis of air cargo transportation and the development of the geography of route networks is performed based on a comparison of the regions of the Russian Far North and equivalent territories and the US state of Alaska. An approach to planning the volumes of air cargo transportation using the criterion of industry-wide efficiency is proposed: it is based on reducing the time of cargo transportation and considering the boundaries of coverage areas of regional airports.</p>