Schiphol cargo volumes rise 5% in Q1 2026 despite March dip

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol handled 361,829 tonnes of air cargo in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 5% year-on-year increase, driven by strong volumes in January and February before a slight decline in March due to ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East, according to the airport’s latest cargo performance update.

In March, total air cargo tonnage reached 128,281 tonnes, reflecting a 3% decline compared to the same month last year. The belly-to-full freighter split stood at 41% to 59%, with full freighters gaining three percentage points year on year, indicating continued reliance on dedicated cargo capacity.

Inbound and outbound volumes were split at 53% and 47%, respectively. Inbound traffic saw notable growth from the Far East at 8%, Middle and South America at 18%, and Africa at 15%, while volumes from the Middle East declined sharply by 47%. On the outbound side, shipments to the Far East and Africa increased by 10% and 8%, respectively, while volumes to the United States dipped by 4% and those to the Middle East fell by 50%.

Key commodities handled during March included electrical machinery, flowers, fashion, fruit and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, fish and spare parts, reflecting the airport’s diverse cargo mix and its role as a major European distribution hub.

In addition to air freight, Schiphol processed 42,132 tonnes of Road Feeder Service cargo, or trucked air cargo, accounting for nearly a quarter of total cargo volumes during the period, highlighting the importance of multimodal connectivity in sustaining throughput.

Maastricht Airport, often referred to as Schiphol’s seventh runway, handled 6,220 tonnes of air cargo during the quarter, representing a 113% year-on-year increase and underscoring its growing role in supporting overflow and specialised cargo operations.