Cargo specialist Liege Airport has been one of Europe’s fastest-growing freight hubs in recent years but the European Union’s introduction of a charge on low-value parcels has put the brakes on growth.
Liege Airport recorded a marginal year-on-year decline in cargo throughput during the third quarter of 2026, as a new European Union charge on low-value e-commerce parcels affected shipment volumes and flight activity.
The Belgian cargo hub handled 334,950 tonnes in the third quarter, down 0.1% compared with the same period last year. Aircraft movements fell by 6% to 6,826, according to figures released by the airport on 14 October.
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The slowdown marks a shift from the stronger performance recorded earlier in the year. Liege Airport reported an 11% increase in cargo volumes during the first half of 2026, before the new charge on imported low-value parcels took effect on 1 July.
According to the airport, the €3 charge on parcels valued below €150 has had a direct impact on its e-commerce-related business. Since its introduction, volumes of small parcels have fallen by 42%, reducing activity in this segment and contributing to fewer dedicated flights.
The airport said, however, that its performance over the first nine months remained positive, with cargo throughput increasing by 7.3% year on year to more than one million tonnes. Aircraft movements edged up 0.1% to 21,180 over the same period.
Exports offset the slowdown
Despite the third-quarter stagnation, Liege Airport’s cumulative performance remained positive. From January to September 2026, the airport handled 1,032,283 tonnes of cargo, up 7.3% from 961,640 tonnes during the same period in 2025.
Export volumes were a major growth driver, rising 18.5% to 453,265 tonnes, compared with 382,299 tonnes a year earlier. Aircraft movements for the nine-month period increased slightly to 21,180, from 21,153 in 2025.
Liege Airport chief executive Laurent Jossart said the weaker third-quarter performance reflected the immediate impact of the new charge on small parcels. However, he said the year-to-date figures demonstrated the resilience of the airport’s operations and the benefits of a diversified cargo business.
The results suggest that stronger exports and other cargo segments have helped offset the decline in e-commerce parcels, although the longer-term effect of the new charge on traffic patterns remains to be seen.
