Brussels’ cargo up in October but Ethiopian move will have “negative” effect

Brussels Airport handled 43,763 tonnes of cargo in October, a 7.3% rise in freight volumes versus the same month in 2014.
The maindeck freighter segment showed “particularly strong growth” of 27.1% to 13,295 tonnes, thanks to the arrival of new airlines at the Belgian hub.
However, the switch by Ethiopian Airways of its B777 freighter flights to Dutch hub Masstricht-Aachen (MST) is expected to have a “negative effect on growth in the coming months,” said Brussels.
Industry reports suggest that Ethiopian made the move because the Belgian government had not approved an extension of the African carrier’s fifth freedom traffic rights for onward flights to Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Express services at the European hub, including those of DHL, grew by 5.9% to 18,309 tonnes during October.
Airfreight showed a decline across the whole of Europe in October and Brussels echoed this trend with a 6.6% decline in passenger bellyhold cargo in October to 12,159 tonnes.