Enhanced freight operations by three air cargo companies in Europe
Maastricht Aachen Airport, a growing alternative to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, is witnessing an influx of cargo services from various airlines, aiming to meet the evolving demand and strengthen high-volume trade lanes.
Etihad Cargo, a prominent player in the industry, is introducing a new end-to-end network connectivity service, linking Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and Madrid, Spain, starting in August. This service is a strategic step in scaling capacity and extending global reach, as stated by Etihad's chief cargo officer, Stanislas Brun.
In addition, Etihad Cargo has outsourced some of its operations to Atlas Air, a company with whom they have previously collaborated for dedicated transport services. The new service will be operated by a newly delivered Boeing 777 freighter from Boeing.
Ethiopian Airlines is another airline enhancing its presence at Maastricht Aachen Airport. Operating twice weekly with a Boeing 777, Ethiopian Airlines connects Hong Kong, Addis Ababa, and the airport, carrying both perishables and general cargo.
My Freighter, another cargo carrier, is also joining the fray with a new, twice-weekly Boeing 767-300 full freighter service. This service connects Shanghai, China; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Maastricht Aachen Airport, transporting e-commerce goods, automotive products, general cargo, and flowers.
Turkish Cargo is further expanding its services at the airport with a Boeing 777 flight added to its twice-weekly service. This route connects Quito, Ecuador; Miami; Istanbul, Turkey; and Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands.
The growth in cargo services at Maastricht Aachen Airport is evident in the 15% year-over-year increase in cargo volumes. This surge can be attributed in part to the arrival of Ethiopian Cargo and the return of Turkish Cargo.
It is worth noting that, in the past month, no publicly disclosed contracts have been announced between airlines for operating cargo flights specifically between Shanghai and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Additionally, no new airport service changes have been reported in this regard.
Etihad Airways' passenger fleet is also continuing to grow, aiming to sustain the momentum by expanding its freighter fleet in parallel. My Freighter's first flight to Maastricht Aachen Airport arrived on Aug. 20.
Maastricht Aachen Airport has a strategic partnership with Schiphol Airport and is partially owned by Royal Schiphol Group. This partnership is expected to further boost the airport's growth and connectivity.
In June, Etihad Cargo wet leased a Boeing 747-400 freighter from U.S.-based Western Global Airlines to support new service to London and Shenzhen, China. This move underscores Etihad's commitment to meeting customer demand and expanding its global reach.
The expansion of cargo services at Maastricht Aachen Airport is a testament to its growing importance as a hub for international trade, further strengthening its position as an alternative to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
