The Los Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma airports reported sharp declines in air freight traffic in March, which plunging imports cutting deeply into business at the key gateways for Asia business.

Freight traffic at Los Angeles International Airport, the United States' largest gateway for Pacific air cargo business, fell 10.9 percent in March, leaving freight there down 9 percent in the first quarter compared to the first three months of 2007.

LAX does not break out imports and exports, but Seattle-Tacoma International Airport said a steep drop in international airports pushed freight traffic at Sea-Tac down 7 percent in March and 5.8 percent in the quarter.

International imports at Sea-Tac fell 14.7 percent in March and inbound international freight was down 16.9 percent in the first quarter.