BUD Cargo City completion adds 250,000 tonnes annual capacity

Nov 23, 2019: Budapest has got a boost in cargo capacity to an annual 250,000 tonnes with the completion of the Phase 1 of air freight terminal, BUD Cargo City. The Euro 50-million terminal includes an 11,200 square metre forwarder building and 21,600 square metre of warehousing space, with a 32,000 square metre cargo apron, which will be able to service two Boeing 747 freighters simultaneously.

The BUD Cargo City was inaugurated on November 22 in the presence of over 400 guests from the Hungarian government and representatives from the local and international air cargo community.

“BUD Cargo City is a significant milestone in BUD’s growth strategy, and establishes the airport as the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)’s air cargo hub and gateway to the world. BUD Cargo City provides a state of the art, efficient, linear and rapid logistics environment for our air cargo community and opens up a world of potential for our partners with high quality increased capacity to build new connections to all continents, especially Asia and North America,” said Rene Droese, chief property and cargo officer, Budapest Airport (BUD).

All warehouse and office space has been leased out to tenants, with international ground and cargo handling companies Celebi Aviation Holding and Menzies Aviation moving into the facility.

Celebi Ground Handling Hungary handles 90,000 tonnes of cargo per year at BUD and has invested in a two-phase infrastructure development plan in anticipation of air cargo growth at BUD.

(L-R) Atilla Korkmazoglu, president, ground handling & cargo, EMEA, Celebi Aviation Holding, Rene Droese, chief property and cargo officer, Budapest Airport and Robert Fordree, executive vice president – Cargo, Menzies Aviation '

“BUD’s location is very attractive with its catchment area that expands both into eastern and western Europe,” said Atilla Korkmazoglu, president, ground handling & cargo, EMEA, Celebi Aviation Holding.

“We have implemented a two-phase construction plan in order to meet growing air cargo volumes at BUD, and phase one is already underway with a 22,000 square metre area that includes 12,000 square metre warehouse space, 1,600 square metre office and social areas, and 8,000 square metre manoeuvring and equipment parking areas, we will install a brand new ETV to increase the capacity for phase 2. At Celebi Ground Handling Hungary we are proud be part of the highly committed and professional environment of Budapest Airport,” added Korkmazoglu.

In the last 12 months BUD has opened belly and freighter routes to China, and BUD Cargo City new routes are scheduled to open in 2020, continuing to strengthen ties with China and invest in the air cargo community.

“BUD airport has demonstrated that the team understands the value of cargo as a revenue stream, and their proactive approach to building an air cargo handling solution and community benefits their partners and the entire air cargo industry. We will be bringing our global network to BUD creating new opportunities for consolidation and global deals, and our new warehousing and office facilities at BUD Cargo City will provide us with airside access which is a game-changer for our business in Hungary,” said Robert Fordree, executive vice president – cargo, Menzies Aviation.

In Phase 2, to be completed by January 2020, the space will be leased out to leading freight forwarders such as Kuehne + Nagel, cargo-partner, DB Schenker, EKOL, Kombi Express, Ghibli/ CECZ and Yusen Logistics.