Strong year for cargo at Budapest Airport

Budapest Airport met its targets for cargo flown during 2010, carrying 82,638 tonnes and a total of 5,808 freighter movements in the year.


This represents a 32 percent increase over cargo tonnage flown and a 23 percent increase in the number of freighters during 2009.


“The result was satisfying in what has been a turbulent year,” said Budapest Airport vice-president Cargo and Logistics Christa Soltau, who noted that performance overall was close to that of 2007, when movements were at an all time high.


Highlights of the year included a Cargolux confirmation that it would add a fifth weekly 747-400F flight from Hong Kong, reflecting enhanced demand for direct cargo services to Asia.


Strong markets for cargo in 2010 were led by Asia and the US. There will be more cargo volume this year with new regular passenger services coming from the US – from New York with American Airlines in April and Delta Airlines reinstating its services from June.


Each departure of Qatar Airways’ new three-times weekly Airbus A320 flights to Doha, for example, is capable of accommodating eight tonnes of bellycargo. (This new flight linking Budapest with the Middle East launched in January 2011).


Cargo will play a big role in the airport’s expansion plans this year, with its new Cargo City being built adjacent to the passenger Terminal 2.


The cargo terminal is scheduled to be complete by late next year and will be a new home for handling agents, freight forwarders and integrators.


The airport, currently served by 53 cargo operators, will be able to more than double the amount of cargo handled within the next two years, up from the current 120,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes.


“Budapest has access to a catchment area of 20 European markets within 1,000km and we are playing an increasingly important role for logistics and distribution in the Central Eastern European market and beyond,” Soltau said.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)