BUDAPEST Airport (BUD) plans to divert air cargo from rival airports and replace trucking into Eastern Europe via its recently opened Cargo City, reports London's Loadstar.
'This is a game-changer,' said Rene Droese, chief airport property and cargo officer. 'It doesn't make sense to truck loads from Vienna [150 miles away] - there are costs and time savings from using BUD.'
The new EUR50 million (US$55.3 million) facility includes an 11,200-square metre forwarder building and 21,6000 square metres of warehousing, alongside a 32,000-square metre cargo apron, capable of serving two 747 freighters simultaneously.
Carriers had been looking for a route into Eastern Europe, he said, and as 'we are now the perfect fit for companies from China, we expect more volumes, although it won't happen overnight'.
Cargolux, which has seven flights a week at BUD from CGO and Hong Kong, was the first airline to land after the cargo facility opened.
Mr Droese said that Xian was also on the radar and that operations may start before the end of the year.
The forwarder building will be completed in phase 2, with companies including Kuehne + Nagel, cargo-partner, DB Schenker, EKOL, Kombi Express, Ghibli/ CECZ and Yusen Logistics moving in January.
Handlers, housed next to the forwarders, include Celebi and Menzies, which, said BUD, was the perfect opportunity for a company looking to boost its cargo operations.
More than 400 guests from the Hungarian government and the local and international air cargo community gathered for the official opening and ribbon-cutting of BUD Cargo City.
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'This is a game-changer,' said Rene Droese, chief airport property and cargo officer. 'It doesn't make sense to truck loads from Vienna [150 miles away] - there are costs and time savings from using BUD.'
The new EUR50 million (US$55.3 million) facility includes an 11,200-square metre forwarder building and 21,6000 square metres of warehousing, alongside a 32,000-square metre cargo apron, capable of serving two 747 freighters simultaneously.
Carriers had been looking for a route into Eastern Europe, he said, and as 'we are now the perfect fit for companies from China, we expect more volumes, although it won't happen overnight'.
Cargolux, which has seven flights a week at BUD from CGO and Hong Kong, was the first airline to land after the cargo facility opened.
Mr Droese said that Xian was also on the radar and that operations may start before the end of the year.
The forwarder building will be completed in phase 2, with companies including Kuehne + Nagel, cargo-partner, DB Schenker, EKOL, Kombi Express, Ghibli/ CECZ and Yusen Logistics moving in January.
Handlers, housed next to the forwarders, include Celebi and Menzies, which, said BUD, was the perfect opportunity for a company looking to boost its cargo operations.
More than 400 guests from the Hungarian government and the local and international air cargo community gathered for the official opening and ribbon-cutting of BUD Cargo City.
WORLD SHIPPING