Brussels Airport’s cargo tonnage fell sharply in March by 8.1 per cent compared to the same month last year due to strikes at Belgian air traffic control provider skeyes and a negative market in Europe.
The Belgian gateway handled 61,514 tonnes and the airport said the negative is in part to be attributed to the industrial action which caused 8.7 per cent of cargo flights to be cancelled.
In addition, the airport said that in recent months it has witnessed a slow down in growth in the cargo segment across the European region.
All cargo segments recorded negative results, with the exception of trucked cargo. Freighter volumes fell by 17.2 per cent, whereas express service volumes and belly volumes fell by 14.6 per cent and 2.8 per cent, respectively, compared with March of last year.
All of which has resulted in a 12 per cent decline in total air cargo volume. In part, these falls were offset by the four per cent growth in trucked cargo.
Imports were stable compared against last year at Brussels Airport but exports on the other hand fell by 16 per cent.
