Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport handled record cargo volumes in November following investment in its BUD Cargo City.
Cargo traffic in November was was up by 6.3% year on year to 13,864 tons — a monthly record. Meanwhile, the volume of goods handled over the first 11 months has exceeded 120,000 tons.
Budapest Airport chief executive Rolf Schnitzler attributable the improvement to pandemic-related shipments, changed purchasing habits and in particular to the €50m private investment undertaken by Budapest Airport into facilities at BUD Cargo City.
“Seamless cargo traffic at the airport requires many players and precise coordination. Close cooperation between shippers, forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, authorities and all colleagues working at the airport is indispensable in this process,” said József Kossuth, cargo manager at Budapest Airport.
“This year was extraordinary and full of challenges for everyone. The fact that cargo traffic at Budapest Airport has remained stable in this changed environment, and even showed a significant increase in November, is the result of our joint work and the exemplary perseverance of the cargo community."
The airport said that it was no surprise that the record was achieved in November as the year-end peak period usually starts in October in air cargo, and intensifies from November
"The record cargo volume registered last month was partly attributable to the Black Friday sales campaign, but this year has strengthened air cargo generally, irrespective of special promotions," the airport said in a release.
"Due to the restrictions introduced on account of the coronavirus pandemic, more companies are using airfreight than ever and more people are choosing online shopping and delivery to their homes or to parcel lockers.In case of orders from other countries, most goods reach customers via the BUD Cargo City and the Hungarian Post Exchange Center located at the airport, or through international integrator companies, such as DHL Express, FedEx (TNT) and UPS."
Budapest Airport welcomed three dedicated cargo flights in 2020; Korean Air launched a flight between Seoul and Budapest, Cargolux from Shenzen to Budapest and an aerial connection is once again available between Zhengzhou and Budapest.
