Stable air cargo year 2023 at Vienna Airport
Pharmaceutical handling reached a record level of 3,675 tonnes
More than 172,000 tonnes were handled for transport by cargo or passenger aircraft in 2023 at Vienna Airport, an increase of two percent compared to 2022.
"Due to the recovery in global air traffic, more belly capacities were available again in 2023. As a result, this segment was able to grow significantly and overcompensate for the decline in cargo aircraft transportation. Together with a decline in air freight trucking volumes, the airport closed 2023 with a total of 245,000 tonnes, a slight decrease of two percent compared to the previous year. Pharmaceutical handling reached a record level of 3,675 tonnes," says an official release.
Declines of around 15,000 tonnes to just over 85,000 tonnes for freighters were offset by growth of more than 18,000 tonnes to around 87,000 tonnes in belly transport, the release added. "The additional belly capacities also had an impact on road feeder services. Trucking 2023 saw a decline of around 8,000 tonnes to around 73,000 tonnes."
Michael Zach, Head, Ground Handling, Vienna Airport says: "2023 was a year of stabilisation. We see the last few months of last year in particular with significant growth in pharmaceutical handling and the elimination of restrictions on Asian traffic, as positive signals for future development."
As one of the most reliable and punctual hubs in the world, the processes for handling shipments with the import one stop shop (IOSS) procedure were defined at the airport in 2023. "Vienna Airport, therefore, has the perfect set-up to handle e-commerce shipments from major Chinese providers, for example, quickly and efficiently in accordance with the IOSS procedure."
For the current year, conditions are also being created for the safe and compliant handling of lithium batteries, the release added. "This is an important step towards being able to handle a wide range of consumer goods from cell phones to e-bikes and e-cars. It is planned that the site will have IATA CEIV lithium batteries certification in the third quarter."
