Swissport adds 3rd air cargo centre in Liège, Belgium
Extension driven by additional capacity for e-commerce & forwarder handling, expanding capacity by 17% to 27,000 sq.m
Swissport International continues to grow at Liège Airport, Belgium, adding a third air cargo centre at one of Europe’s major gateways for international air cargo.
The extension is driven by additional capacity for e-commerce and forwarder handling, expanding the overall capacity by 17 percent to 27,000 square metres, says an official release.
"Located in a second line just behind its existing two air cargo centres, the terminal expansion enables Swissport to offer a wide range of handling services at unparalleled capacity. In a step aligned with Swissport’s global cargo strategy, the product portfolio now includes forwarder handling, e-commerce processing and sorting, import trucking, and specialised build-up/break-down operations for brokers, airlines and others. The new, customs bonded facility, which opened on April 22, 2024 adds 4,000 sq.m to Swissport’s capacity."
Wilfried Jans, Director, Swissport's Cargo Division, Liège Airport says: "The opening of our third terminal here at Liège Airport is an important milestone for us. The additional capacity relieves our first-line air cargo warehouses, enhances our operational efficiency and provides flexibility to respond to short notice customer needs. The expansion also enables us to offer customised handling solutions, catering to the specific needs of forwarders and e-commerce providers, activities that do not necessitate first-line services. We are now even better prepared to meet and exceed the demands of our existing customers and to forge new partnerships."
Dirk Goovaerts, Global Cargo Chair and CEO, Swissport CEMEAI region adds: "Liège Airport has established itself as a key player in the air cargo landscape with a remarkable 13 percent increase in cargo volumes year-on-year. Recognising the growing demand in e-commerce, particularly driven by air cargo movements out of Asia, Swissport has secured contracts with leading e-commerce players to handle cargo at its Liège facility. This strategic focus reflects the role of Liège as the ideal cargo hub for e-commerce logistics in central Europe, capitalising on the airport's prime location and existing flight connections to India and China."
A team of 300 Swissport professionals handled 360,000 tonnes of air cargo and serviced over 3,750 freighters at Liege Airport in 2023, contributing significantly to the performance of Swissport’s air cargo operations globally, the release added.
