Airports update 23 March

AIR Cargo News reports on new cargo developments at airports around the world.

In Europe, the UK’s Birmingham Airport has now entered the top 10 UK airports based on tonnage of cargo handled last year. The airport processed over 21,000 tonnes of cargo in 2010, up 65 per cent on 2009.

Frankfurt Airport’s summer timetable 2011 features 29 airlines flying all-freighter services to 78 destinations in 43 countries. The number of all-freighter departures from FRA will climb by 5.6 per cent to 250 a week. With 160 intercontinental flights per week, Frankfurt will account for 66.5 per cent of all intercontinental freight flights offered this summer season by Germany’s 16 coordinated commercial airports.

To the south, Malta International Airport has appointed Andreas Schadenhofer as chairman of the board of directors with effect from 17 March. He replaces Karin Zipperer, who resigned from her position as chairwoman, as well as a director, on 26 January. Cargo figures in 2010 were 4.5 per cent lower than in 2009 at the airport.

Across the Atlantic, while passenger use was down in February at Lafayette Regional Airport in Louisiana, cargo counts remained strong with more than 831,000 pounds of cargo loaded at the airport and another 985,623 pounds unloaded. During February more than 2.7 million pounds of airfreight moved through Southwest Florida International Airport.

In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi International Airport February 2011 traffic figures showed a 20 per cent jump in cargo shipments over last year, with the airport handling 37,867 tons of cargo, mainly due to the expansion of Etihad Airways’ cargo operations.