Brussels Airport attracts Middle East cargo interest

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Lined up: the amount of cargo handled by Middle Eastern airlines such as Royal Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Airlines at Brussels Airport is constantly growing.

Cargo volumes from the Middle East to Brussels Airport is expected to increase significantly following the operational growth of Royal Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Royal Jordan recently switched its airfreight operations from Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands to Brucargo, the cargo hub of Brussels Airport. Within the same month, Saudi Arabian Airlines, one of the airport's largest customers, also increased its cargo frequency to the European destination.

"The addition of Royal Jordanian Cargo, together with these extra flights from Saudi Arabian Airlines, is great news for the Brucargo community and those involved in traffic and trade with the Middle East and beyond," said Wilfried Van Assche, chief executive office, Brussels Airport. "These new operations will bring more traffic, more jobs and more business opportunities to our airport and the whole region."

Since selecting its new European hub, Royal Jordanian Cargo has announced five weekly daytime flights using full freight Airbus A310 aircraft to Brussels. After four weeks of the new schedule, the Jordan-based carrier supplied two extra flights to cope with demand for exports on the route.

"The current modernisation of Brucargo and its flexibility to accommodate new players and activities were a strong bonus," said Dirk Socquet, general sales agent Belgium, Royal Jordanian Cargo.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabian Airlines has added two weekly flights to its current Brucargo timetable. Operated using MD-11F and B747-200 aircraft, the move takes the national carrier of Saudi Arabia's total weekly flights to the destination to 20.

Such activity from Middle Eastern carriers marks a strong marketing campaign targeted at the region following large-scale managerial changes at the airport. A change in board members two years ago resulted in a more active marketing policy, particularly towards its cargo facilities.

"Over the last year we have been extensively marketing the cargo hub here at Brussels Airport and we are now seeing the results beginning to appear. I have visited all airlines in the Middle East during this period and it is certainly one of the biggest markets we are targeting," said Philippe Fierens, manager cargo business development, Brussels Airport. "We are located in the heart of Europe and surrounded by five major airports, all of which are congested and have dominant home-based cargo carriers. We can offer airlines a lot of space, with great trucking connections to other European transit hubs."

Identifying itself as a leading "second-tier" airport, Brussels views the capture of Royal Jordanian Cargo's business from local rivals, Maastricht-Aachen Airport, as a sign of its growing stature. Handling 720,000 tonnes of airfreight during 2006, with an additional 295,000 tonnes of road freight passing through the airport during the same period, Brussels hopes the Middle East can further boost cargo traffic. The airport also possesses strong ties with Asia, with Singapore Cargo being one of its major customers. The carrier maintains 14 flights a week using a B747-400 aircraft from Singapore via Brussels to JFK New York.

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