DÜSSELDORF BOOSTS BELLYHOLD
The Northern regions of Germany as well as parts of the adjacent Belgian and Dutch markets, are reaping rich rewards from Germany’s economic success. Düsseldorf, Germany’s third largest hub offers unrivalled cargo connections plus a new overnight distribution network. Gerton Hulsman, Managing Director of DUS Cargo Logistics and Thomas Schürmann, Marketing & Sales Manager, comment.
“Düsseldorf International Airport is looking optimistically at 2012, despite the 2011 cargo volume, down by 3% compared to 2010.2 states Thomas Schürmann. “Indeed the Airport’s traffic is in a healthy state and the future is looking bright. In 2011 we celebrated our 10th anniversary as a 100% subsidiary of the Düsseldorf International Airport authority. Over last year, numerous new customers chose this airport which is very important for our long term strategy. The decline of 3% compared to 2010 is basically caused by the strong catch-up effect in 2010, after the global crises. The load factors into and out of Düsseldorf are becoming better again.
“ We renently signed an agreement with RunAir, a trucking consortium currently developing a cross Germany network to connect first and second tier airports overnight. Some routes are already serving airports in the BeNeLux”. continues Schürmann. “This extra facility puts us in the position to offer a total product to the airline industry, not limited to cargo handling only. When you look at our route map you will find many major intercontinental destinations, the cargo onboard those aircraft is destined for our catchment area, but also for the north of Germany. Now the airlines have another choice with fixed schedules and flexibility, there is no need to book a full-truck-load. The reverse is of course true for outbound cargo “
Gerton Hulsman substantiates these comments. “We are the lower-deck specialist airport – offering more than 180 destinations worldwide and providing the hub for two of the three big airline alliances, the Star Alliance and the One-World alliance. In fact substantial development can be seen at this second tier airport in the north-western region of Germany. In March the Chinese flag carrier Air China started three times weekly passenger service between Beijing and Düsseldorf, increasing the frequencies up to five flights weekly before June 2012 with A 330 aircraft. The national carrier of the U.A.E., Etihad Airways also started A330 passenger service in December and will increase that as from April to a daily service. Their biggest competitor, Emirates, has served Düsseldorf for many years with double daily passenger service (B777 and A 340) and a weekly freighter service (B747F).
“ Our catchment area generates much more cargo than capacity offered. Düsseldorf is in many ways a unique airport, both of the big German airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, are using Düsseldorf International as their hub. The majority of the Air Berlin’s long-haul flights depart from here and Lufthansa is serving various destinations in North America with A330 aircraft and will add a six time weekly Tokyo service with A340 as from June this year. We are looking forward to the new developments, especially when Air Berlin joins the One-World alliance as from March 2012. We expect that other carriers will look at Düsseldorf much more in the coming future and every long-haul flight brings more capacity in the market”.
Source: Logistik express editorial staff