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 ending December 31, 2010. This represents a 32% increase over cargo tonnage flown and a 23% increase in freighter ATMs during 2009.
“The result was satisfying in what has been a turbulent year,” said Christa Soltau, Vice President Cargo and Logistics, Budapest Airport, who noted that performance overall was close to that of 2007, when movements were at an all time high.
Highlights of the year included confirmation from Cargolux of a fifth weekly Boeing 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 USA. There will be additional cargo volume this year with new regular passenger services coming from the USA – from New York with American Airlines in April and Delta Air Lines reinstating its services from June. Each departure of Qatar Airways’ new three-times weekly Airbus A320 flights to Doha, launched in January, is capable of accommodating eight tonnes of cargo in the hold.
Cargo will play a big role in the airport’s expansion plans this year, with its new Cargo City being built adjacent to Terminal 2. Work is ongoing in readiness for late 2012 completion. It will be a new home for handling agents, freight forwarders and integrators. All the facilities will be tailored to the needs of tenant companies. The airport is currently served by 53 cargo operators from the jumbo jets of Cargolux and El Al to the major integrator flights of UPS, DHL, TNT and Fed Ex and their smaller feeder aircraft, and the new facility will enable it to increase its cargo handling capacity within the next two years up to 250,000 tonnes a year. Currently, the airport has the capacity for up to 120,000 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,” added Christa Soltau.
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