Brussels Airport: Cargo volumes increase as passenger services pick up

Brussels Airport has noted an increase in airfreight demand in July, as passenger services and bellyhold cargo capacity continued to increase.

The hub recorded a 34.7% year-on-year increase in total cargo volumes in July, up to 74,848 tonnes.

Bellyhold cargo volumes increased 155.4% in July to 9,668 tonnes; full freighter volumes climbed 25.8% to 25,184 tonnes; and trucked cargo volumes climbed 45.7% to 14,532 tonnes.

“Brussels Airport is once again seeing growth in the full cargo segment across almost all existing clients,” the hub said in a statement.

“New routes from Asia are a major contributor to this steady growth. Asia remains the most important region, followed by North America and Africa.”

Year-to-date, total cargo volumes increased 35.8% year on year to 490,655 tonnes.

The number of cargo flights operated at the hub increased 7% year on year to 1,907.

“The number of flights operated by passenger aircraft used to carry freight only reduced slightly from month to month, due primarily to the resumption of regular passenger flights. In July, they still accounted for one-third of full cargo flights.”

Brussels Airport added that to date, it has handled more than 210m coronavirus vaccines.