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focus

BRUSSELS AIRPORT

GROWING

HUB FOR

E-COMMERCE

As online shopping grows
and the demand for efficient
e-commerce logistics
solutions increases, Brussels
Airport vows to innovate
and invest in infrastructure,
digitalisation, and
partnerships to stay ahead.
Libin Chacko Kurian

ocated in the heart of Europe Airport as the preferred European pharma Brussels Airport has developed a strong
and operating as its logistics hub, gateway,” says Dimitri Bettoni, Head of cargo partnership, particularly with China.
Brussels Airport handled 700,846 Cargo - Product & Network Development, The airport has established various direct
Ltonnes of cargo in the calendar Brussels Airport Company. flights to major Chinese cities, facilitating
year 2023. The airport is also connected However, Brussels Airport is not just faster and more reliable transport of e-
to the world with 64 airlines operating to about pharmaceuticals & life sciences, commerce goods.
185 direct destinations. although it represents 17 percent of the air- “This is made possible thanks to the
The airport is also an economic hub for port’s export volumes, significantly above strong partnership with Chinese carriers
Belgium which creates over 85,000 jobs European average. already operating to Brussels and the new
and contributes €8.8 billion to the Belgian As Bettoni said, “We also specialise in the MoUs signed with Chinese airports,” he said.
economy, about 2 percent of gross domestic handling of perishable goods, live animals, He added, “Through these efforts, "Brussels
product. 7,062 of direct employees (27 and e-commerce.” Airport positions itself as a vital link in the
percent) are related to cargo activities, which For instance, the airport witnessed in- cargo chain between Europe and Asia, par-
also account for 23 percent of direct added creased imports from Asia throughout 2024, ticularly China, supporting the growing trade
value (€539 million). particularly in January and February 2024 and e-commerce demands of both markets."
Brussels Airport has also built its reputa- when the Year-on-Year (YoY) growth was 112 Brussels Airport is enhancing solutions to
tion as the European pharma gateway, and 101 percent respectively, in line with the improve its cargo operations, infrastructure
with its location, providing easy access to global trend of e-commerce growth. and transit times.
major European markets, and proximity to As e-commerce grows, Brussels Airport For instance, the airport is currently
manufacturing facilities of leading global Company is increasingly focusing on this redeveloping its cargo zone by creating 25
pharmaceutical companies. sector. Bettoni informs that he is aware of the percent more warehouse capacity by 2027.
“Many years of investments and ex- competition at other European air cargo hub “These investments will improve the
pertise in, among others, the handling of airports. “However,” he said, “e-commerce throughput not only between first- and sec-
pharmaceuticals and life sciences have is a broad noun and very diverse, so there is ond-line warehouses but also from landside
strengthened the position of Brussels enough cake for everyone.” to airside and vice versa,” informed Bettoni.
12 | OCTOBER 2024 www.stattimes.com