Budapest Airport recorded significant growth in air cargo traffic during the first month of 2017, as it posted an increase of 26.8 per cent in January, compared to the same month in 2016.
Arriving and departing cargo traffic reached 5,114 tonnes in January 2016, but was 6,487 tonnes last month.
Budapest Airport says the underlying factors include the strong performance of the Hungarian processing industry and exports of high value-added goods, such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and vehicle parts.
Construction of two new integrator buildings is in full swing at Budapest, with the complex due to be handed over this summer. The total area of the two new logistics bases exceeds 16,000 square metres.
Integrator companies represent a significant and growing segment of cargo traffic, with several flights a day. DHL Express operates with two large and several smaller, feeder aircraft on a daily basis; an Airbus A300-600F links Budapest with its European hub in Leipzig, whilst a Boeing 737 transports goods to Hungary from Brussels.
Budapest has also commenced preparatory works for the Cargo City, a facility planned to be constructed near Terminal 2, which will handle the flights of Cargolux, Turkish Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo, as well as belly cargo.
The airport says the performance of Qatar Airways Cargo greatly contributed to the record growth in air cargo traffic in January 2017.
Budapest chief executive officer, Jost Lammers says: “Cargo airlines play an important role in channeling the mainstays of the Hungarian economy, such as pharmaceuticals, telecommunication and IT products, into the circulation of the world economy.
“This year, Budapest Airport’s objective is to further expand its network, and to enable our partners to increase their cargo capacities in Budapest.”
