How Benelux is shaping Europe’s air cargo and logistics landscape

The Benelux region has firmly established itself as the logistics heartland of Europe, with its strategic airports playing an increasingly vital role in global air cargo networks. As the industry closed out a record-breaking 2024, the region's major hubs demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, positioning themselves as critical gateways for e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, perishables, and high-tech cargo flows.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, global air cargo demand achieved historic growth in 2024, with cargo tonne-kilometres increasing 11.3% compared to 2023, surpassing even the record volumes set in 2021.

European carriers recorded 11.2% growth while capacity increased by 7.8%, reflecting the robust performance of the continent's cargo infrastructure. Within this dynamic landscape, the Benelux airports have emerged as standout performers, each carving out distinct competitive advantages while collectively strengthening the region's position as Europe's logistics nexus.

Liege Airport: A hub built around freighters
Liege Airport delivered exceptional performance in Q3 2025 as it handled 334,956 tonnes of freight between July and September 2025, marking a 23% increase compared to the same period last year. Cargo flights during the quarter also rose by 9%, reflecting sustained demand.

The airport also reported a total cargo throughput of 1,162,899 tonnes in 2024, an increase of 16% compared with 1,005,676 tonnes in 2023. The airport's transformation has been remarkable, with its customer base diversifying significantly. The top five airlines now represent 58% of tonnage compared to 90% in 2014, while cargo airlines operating regularly at Liege grew from 40 at the end of 2023 to 48 by year-end 2024.

Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Liege Airport, comments on this growth, “As a pure freighter airport operating 24/7, Liege (LGG) handles peak operations with ease through dedicated fast-track bypasses connecting aircraft stands directly to truck loading bays. The airport can process up to 1.8 million tonnes of cargo annually and handles around 730 tonnes of perishables and flowers daily, while live animals maintain strong performance through LGG’s specialised Horse Inn and expert handling teams.”

“LGG’s cargo flows are increasingly shaped by new demand corridors. The US is emerging as a strong growth region, fueled by reduced passenger-belly capacity, while Latin America is showing robust development across perishables and e-commerce. Asia also continues its upward trajectory, driven by resilient express and cross-border trade,” says Frédéric Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics at Liege Airport.

Several verticals are expanding simultaneously, with pharma logistics picking up pace due to the LGG Pharma Community and advanced GDP-compliant facilities, while e-commerce remains a key driver, powered by dedicated airside and landside hubs totaling more than 300,000 m².

“LGG’s cargo flows are increasingly shaped by new demand corridors.”
 Frédéric Brun, Liege Airport

While speaking about sustainability, Wefers says, “Sustainability is a cornerstone of LGG’s strategy. The airport produces 100% renewable electricity for its buildings, is electrifying ground-support equipment, and offers SAF-ready fueling at its on-site fuel farm. Its tariff grid rewards operators of quieter, more efficient aircraft, while biodiversity protection, noise-reduction programmes, and multimodal connectivity reduce environmental impact. These initiatives form part of LGG’s roadmap toward carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.”

Brussels Airport: Europe’s pharmaceutical gateway
Brussels Airport recorded an 11% increase in total cargo volumes in September compared to the same month last year, reaching 65,799 tonnes. Flown cargo rose by 17% to 57,650 tonnes. The full-freighter segment increased by 9%, and belly cargo rose by 8%. During the first three quarters of 2025, total cargo volumes grew by 13% compared to the same period in 2024. The airport handled 733,000 tonnes in 2024, maintaining its position as Europe's premier pharmaceutical and life sciences hub. The airport also welcomed four new cargo airlines, LATAM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Farcargo, and Virgin Atlantic.

Dimitri Bettoni, Head of Cargo Product & Network Development, Brussels Airport, says: “Brussels Airport is a key cargo hub, strategically positioned in the heart of Europe with a strong focus on high-value and time-critical segments. The airport is the preferred hub for pharma and life sciences, serving as Europe’s most important pharmaceutical gateway.”

Brussels Airport was the first airport in the world where stakeholders of the cargo community received the CEIV Pharma certification. It pioneered the airside pharma transporter, a pre-conditioned trailer maintaining pharmaceutical shipments within correct temperature limits during transport between warehouses and aircraft.

“Brussels Airport follows a targeted full freighter strategy to increase global and diversified connectivity, ensuring a strong and balanced cargo network.”
Dimitri Bettoni, Brussels Airport

“In October, we inaugurated Brucargo Central, an 83,500 m² logistics site on which eight outdated buildings have been replaced by three innovative constructions totaling 34,000 m² of warehouses and offices. Moreover, an additional 10,000 m² of temperature-controlled space has been added, bringing total cold storage capacity in the Brussels Airport cargo area to 45,000 m², a unique figure in Europe that further underlines our leadership position in the air cargo industry,” says Bettoni. Construction will soon begin on Brucargo East, a 7,300 m² sustainable, state-of-the-art warehouse, as the airport's infrastructure roadmap aims to expand cargo capacity by 50% in the coming years.

In addition to pharma and life sciences, the key focus markets at Brussels Airport are perishables, e-commerce, and live animals.

“Brussels leads in digital transformation with initiatives like the BRUcloud data sharing platform and the Digital Green Lane. In parallel, the development of a new digital customs application is underway, in close collaboration with Air Cargo Belgium and customs, to streamline customs processes,” comments Bettoni.

Bettoni notes: “Belly cargo is particularly interesting for the profitability of airlines. At Brussels Airport, one-third of all cargo is belly. The other two-thirds are full freighters on the one hand, and integrators on the other hand. For example, a passenger flight operated by Brussels Airlines can also transport 30 tonnes of essential goods to Africa. The airport also actively encourages airlines to operate modern aircraft with lower CO2 emissions and reduced noise impact. Looking ahead, cargo growth is expected mainly during daytime operations rather than at night.”

Brussels plays a leading role in the European Green Deal's Stargate project, with tests on the Taxibot semi-autonomous aircraft towing system and commitment to electric ground handling equipment. Bettoni foresees sustained growth toward one million tonnes in the coming years, driven by pharma leadership, infrastructure expansion, and a strong logistics ecosystem.

Maastricht Aachen Airport: the flexible alternative
Maastricht Aachen Airport welcomed Avianca Cargo, My Freighter, and Ethiopian Airlines in 2024, while Turkish Cargo returned with increased flights. Over the summer, several Atlas Air charters operated through Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST).

Dean Boljuncic, Head of Commercial Development at MST, says: “More carriers are experiencing MST’s unbeatable cargo handling capabilities, including the speed of transfers and our professional service. It’s a short distance from the apron, and we’re able to transfer cargo from aircraft to truck in just three hours. Our on-time performance is 98%. Plus, our customs-aligned processes keep dwell times to a minimum. Add to that our location, a sweet spot for serving the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, and MST is an attractive hub for accessing Europe quickly. The airport is also equipped with ILS CAT IIIB, which means no severe weather disruptions.”

“We are part of the Royal Schiphol Group, and MST is often thought of as Schiphol’s seventh runway. This means we have a direct link with Schiphol.”
  Dean Boljuncic, Maastricht Aachen Airport

The airport specialises in delicate and high-value cargo, particularly flowers, perishables, live animals, and pharma. The modernised AnimalPort Netherlands accommodates over 60 horses through an agreement with ECS Livestock.

Boljuncic explains: “We know that temperature inconsistencies can drive up to 20% waste in flower freight, and using FlowerWatch’s monitoring tools and data loggers, as well as our enhanced facilities for temperature-sensitive cargo, we can drastically reduce losses and increase profitability for our customers. We are also working on new warehouse projects at MST to meet growing cargo demand.”

He concludes, “Despite a nighttime curfew, MST operates cargo 24/7 and remains the only Dutch airport with available slots for growing demand.”

The airport is working to increase usable runway length, though even with the current 2,500 metres, a Boeing 777 can take off fully fueled with an 80-tonne payload.

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo's network strategy
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) operates as a network carrier with two strategic hubs at the core of its hub-and-spoke system: Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Amsterdam Schiphol handled 118,685 tonnes of air cargo in September. In 2024, Schiphol managed a total of 1.49 million tonnes of cargo, up 8% from 1.38 million tonnes in 2023.

Frédérique Pelger, Director Benelux at AFKLMP, says: “Amsterdam Schiphol, KLM’s home base, offers a unique combination of belly and freighter capacity at a slot-constrained yet highly efficient airport. The central location of Amsterdam Schiphol near Europe’s key air-cargo demand centres, combined with strong multimodal connectivity, makes it an essential pillar in our global network strategy.”

“The Belgium/Luxembourg area is strategically located between our two hubs, offering connectivity on both the KLM/Martinair and Air France networks; each with its own set of historically strong destinations. The proximity of Amsterdam and Paris allows for smooth transit between the two airlines, with some same-day connections possible, providing our customers with flexibility and routing options.”

“Our ambition is to grow smarter, not just larger. Scaling is driven by digitalisation, data, and strong partnerships.”
  Frédérique Pelger, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo

Pelger emphasises the Benelux as an innovation driver: “Within Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, we frequently pilot new digital solutions in the Benelux, such as enhancements in myCargo and our new customer service platform, before rolling them out globally. The Benelux is therefore not only a logistical powerhouse but also a key innovation hub for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo’s global transformation. At our core, our purpose is to connect, to build meaningful connections with our customers and partners, enabling the global connectivity that keeps economies, businesses, and our communities moving.”

The carrier operates a hybrid model balancing belly and freighter capacity. Pelger explains: “We are a network carrier. Our belly capacity on passenger flights provides a strong and stable backbone for cargo operations. We strongly believe in the value of freighter aircraft, both within the KLM/Martinair and Air France fleets, as a powerful complement to our belly network. We complement our extensive belly cargo network by deploying the KLM/Martinair Cargo freighters on routes with high volumes or oversized shipments. Freighters also enable us to serve unique destinations on a regular basis, ensuring flexibility and broader coverage. They also allow us to operate charters and ad-hoc missions when customer needs arise.”

This combination serves diverse needs from express parcels and pharmaceuticals to outsized industrial shipments and horse transportation. The model proved its strength during the pandemic and remains a cornerstone of global strategy.

Pharmaceutical excellence and growth segments
Regarding pharma operations, Pelger says: “Overall, we have a rather positive outlook, as most operations in the Benelux are internalised and located close to our hubs. This proximity gives us full control to adjust operations quickly and maintain both speed and compliance with local and global requirements.”

AFKLMP invests continuously in GDP compliance and IATA CEIV Pharma certification. Infrastructure investments include iCargo roll-out at CDG in 2024 and AMS in 2025, new cool-cell facilities at CDG, and plans for a new AMS cargo terminal. Recent investments in ULDs and loose cool cells for +2 to +8°C and +15 to +25°C increased handling capacity, while Chicago ORD was upgraded to support global pharma flows.

Ensuring cool-chain integrity remains critical. AFKLMP focuses on reducing tarmac exposure and improving lead times through thermal covers on all mixed-ULDs ex-AMS, testing of cool dollies, and optimisation of ULD build-up processes. The carrier already sees positive results, including higher first-arrival performance and fewer CAPAs during the summer.

Pelger states: “Finally, we recognise that speed is increasingly important. Our pharma product is designed for short lead times, faster warehouse breakdown, and priority handling. In addition, our Express service caters to highly time-sensitive shipments. We will continue to enhance our product to support the most critical and compliant healthcare flows, ensuring patients receive their medicines safely and on time.”

The carrier's ambition is to grow smarter, not just larger, with scaling driven by digitalisation, data, and strong partnerships. AFKLMP modernises its fleet with aircraft offering larger bellies and improved fuel efficiency, while expanding digital platforms like myCargo and its new customer service platform. Beyond pharma, Pelger sees strong growth in other segments: “While pharmaceutical logistics continues to expand, we also see strong growth in other key segments such as perishables and high-tech cargo. The Benelux remains a major logistics hub in Europe’s trade flows, connecting exporters of fresh produce (such as flowers, fish, and vegetables), technology clusters, and global supply chains through Amsterdam, Brussels, and Luxembourg.”

Fresh produce, including flowers, salmon, and vegetables, will remain among the most important flows. The high-tech segment will grow, driven by specialist manufacturers and innovation clusters, particularly in semiconductors. Pelger emphasises: “The Benelux will continue to serve as our innovation hub, where we pilot data-driven logistics, carbon-reduction programmes and new collaborative models with customers and partners. By combining operational excellence with innovation and sustainability, we strengthen our market leadership while fulfilling our mission to connect people, businesses, and economies through reliable, responsible air logistics.”

Lufthansa Cargo's virtual hub access
Dr. André Schulz, Head of Region Europe at Lufthansa Cargo, says: “The Benelux region combines producing and trading economies. The countries are strong in high-tech or electronics products, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, and agricultural products or food, as well as e-commerce. These sectors require reliable and fast air freight solutions, which Lufthansa Cargo specifically addresses, having local teams based in the Benelux region. It is strategically important for Lufthansa Cargo to ensure direct and reliable sales relationships with the forwarders and fast cargo processing.”

Lufthansa Cargo uses its broad Road Feeder Service network to connect Benelux to main hubs. Schulz explains: “Lufthansa Cargo uses its broad Road Feeder Service (RFS) network to connect Benelux to its main German hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as to the European hubs in Brussels, Vienna, and now also Rome-Fiumicino. This allows Lufthansa Cargo to offer ‘virtual hub access’ to customers in the Benelux region. By using the road feeder options, they are able to utilise Amsterdam, Brussels, and Luxembourg as long-haul departure points.”

“Many regulatory challenges or restrictions in terms of aviation policies don’t directly affect Lufthansa Cargo in the Benelux region.”
Dr. André Schulz, Lufthansa Cargo

Frankfurt, the carrier's main hub, can be reached from Benelux in less than six hours, enabling same or next-day global departures. The carrier also uses the belly capacities of passenger flights within the Lufthansa Group from the Benelux region into the gateways for smaller consignments. “We offer direct connections from Amsterdam and Brussels via Rome to ITA Airways’ intercontinental network starting with the upcoming winter flight schedule,” says Schulz.

Schulz acknowledges competitive pressure: “The number of airports offering capacity in proximity adds pressure for more traditional carriers like Lufthansa Cargo. Therefore, we closely monitor and evaluate our services and processes for our customers on an ongoing basis to react quickly in such a competitive environment.”

The carrier's centralised capacity and pricing management proactively steers belly and freighter capacities across Europe so fluctuating demand can be counterbalanced early. Since 2024, Lufthansa has operated regular Brussels-Chicago freighter flights, with Luxembourg and Amsterdam feeding into this service offering competitive transit times for temperature-sensitive goods.

Schulz highlights differentiation: “Lufthansa Cargo differentiates itself with a winning combination of a broad product portfolio, global hub connectivity, and digital tools, plus local teams to connect with the markets. We offer the broadest network across Europe with our own freighter fleet and the belly capacities of Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, ITA Airways, and SunExpress.”

He adds that balancing automation and digitisation for efficiency while offering local and in-person interaction is another important aspect of the carrier's approach.

Regional dynamics and future outlook
The Benelux region's concentration of cargo hubs creates complementary specialisation. Brussels dominates pharmaceutical logistics, Liege leads in e-commerce and express, Amsterdam balances network operations, and Maastricht provides flexible overflow capacity.

IATA has estimated that air cargo growth will moderate to 5.8% for the year 2025. However, Benelux airports are well-positioned with major infrastructure investments underway.

Brussels Airport plans a 50% capacity expansion, while Liege Airport has launched CargoLand, a €500 million cargo infrastructure project set for completion by 2040. The initiative will modernise air cargo handling through digitalisation, advanced equipment, multimodal links, and sustainable development. Pharma logistics will keep expanding, with e-commerce, high-tech, and perishables as key growth drivers. The Benelux region’s strategic location, robust infrastructure, and focus on innovation and sustainability reinforce its position as a leader in European air freight logistics.