Vienna Airport continues to see strong growth in cargo operations, with 216,360 tons of cargo handled from JAN-SEP24 – an impressive 20% increase compared to the same period last year. Both flown and trucked air freight contributed to this positive trend. Belly cargo on passenger aircraft was a key driver, rising by 45% to 90,692 tons during the nine-month period. The third quarter saw particularly robust performance, with cargo volumes reaching 75,242 tons, up over 25% year-on-year. SEP24 alone recorded 18,094 tons of airfreight, marking a 25% increase compared to the same month in 2023.
This growth has been fueled by strong market demand for air freight and additional flight connections, boosting capacity. Recent service expansions include Qatar Airways Cargo’s weekly flights between Vienna and Doha, launched in SEP24, and the return of Hainan Airlines to Vienna in MAY24. VIE states that its continued success in cargo handling highlights its strategic importance as a logistics hub, and shows that it is meeting increasing demand and strengthening its position in the global air freight market.
Julian Jäger, joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, said: “Vienna Airport continues to expand its position as a central cargo hub: With our modern infrastructure and high service quality, we are creating optimal conditions for fast and efficient cargo handling. The increasing number of airlines that have chosen us as a reliable cargo location and, in particular, the 45% growth in belly freight, confirm our importance as a key logistics hub between Europe and Asia.”
Michael Zach, Senior Vice President Ground Handling & Cargo Operations of Vienna Airport, exclaimed: “It is very pleasing that we were able to record growth in SEP24 for both freight-only flights and belly freight on passenger aircraft as well as trucking. The expansion of connectivity through new flight connections and additional cargo flights demonstrates the importance of the airport as a strategic hub in the region. The strong growth shows that we can respond to the needs of international logistics in a dynamic market environment and act as a reliable partner for cargo customers.”
