Air freight continued its upward trend of the last 3 years: 2015 closed with a total of 738,136 tons of freight and post transported by air via Luxembourg Airport.
This represents an increase of 4.2% compared to 2014 and is similar to the increase witnessed in 2014 compared to 2013. Strongest growth was recorded in October and November (+9%), August (+8%) and July (+7%). Every month of the year showed an increase compared to the same month the year before.
When the road freight transported under an airway bill is added, the tonnage amounts to 747,000.
These results are in sharp contrast with the worldwide slowdown in air cargo: measured in FTK (Freight Tonne Kilometre) and based on figures from IATA (International Air Transport Association), European airlines reported a growth of just 0.2% in October and a decline by 2% in November. Global air freight increased by only 2.3% year-to-date through November 2015, which indicates that air freight at Luxembourg Airport grew almost twice as fast as the world average. This is testimony to the fact that shippers, freight forwarders and airlines recognise the excellent location of Luxembourg in the heart of Europe and its closeness to the major consumer markets in the EU. Fast handling processes, efficient customs procedures and a specialisation in high-value products such as pharma and life sciences, electronics and live animals, all contributed to these results.
Cargolux remains by far the largest customer of Luxembourg Airport. It expanded especially its flights to China (daily flights to Zhengzhou). In 2015, Cargolux added the following destinations to its network: Chennai, India (two weekly frequencies in cooperation with Oman Air) and Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan. Atlas Air in cooperation with Panalpina is the second largest customer. Qatar Airways, the third largest customer, increased its flights from 3 to 5 per week. China Airlines and Silk Way West Airlines complete the top 5 airlines.
Some interesting facts & figures about the types of cargo that flew to and from Luxembourg: 2,120 horses (+34%) took to the air in 2015, along with 73,821 day-old chicks (+89%), 1,589 dogs (+150%), 643 Alpacas (+315%), 86 hamsters, 1 hyena and 2 donkeys.
117 racing motorbikes were flown to the Indianapolis Moto GP, 25 Formula 3 cars plus 10 GT & Touring cars, 60 tons of spare parts and 25,000 litres of racing fuel were flown to the Macau GP and 25 tons of jetskis to Dubai.
Last but not least, lux-Airport and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), the largest air cargo terminal operator at Hong Kong International Airport, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 6 May 2015 to promote the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive medicinal products for human use, in accordance with the European Union and World Health Organization Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certifications. This agreement, the first of its kind worldwide, aims at ensuring GDP compliance for transportation of pharmaceutical products by air for the benefit of all stakeholders.
