Munich Airport is combining network growth, targeted investment and digital innovation to accelerate its cargo ambitions. Director of cargo development Markus Heinelt shares what comes next.

Munich Airport has reported strong cargo growth recently, particularly driven by long-haul belly freight capacity. What do you believe is underpinning Munich’s current momentum in the cargo market?

In 2025, Munich Airport saw a 9.5% increase in cargo, reaching approximately 340,000 tonnes, while the average growth rate for all German airports was just 1.1%. es. We can therefore proudly state that we were number one in Germany for cargo growth in 2025, and our cargo growth is continuing this year as well.

According to the current summer flight schedule, up to 386 weekly long-haul flights to 51 destinations are scheduled from Munich. Additional long-haul flights will be added as existing airline customers increase their frequencies and new airlines enter our market. This will then automatically increase the available cargo capacity.

Many leading logistics companies have established cargo hubs with us and route air cargo shipments primarily from southern Germany and parts of southeastern Europe through Munich. The growing number of long-haul connections to and from Munich is fuelling these activities.

How important is passenger network expansion to the airport’s wider cargo strategy?

Cargo is an integral part of Munich Airport’s corporate strategy, and one could also put it the other way around.

Our strategy for cargo is focused on a few key areas. First, we aim to support the acquisition and ongoing operations of all our long-haul customers in the belly and main deck sectors.

Second, we are committed to maintaining and continuously improving our five-star cargo infrastructure and cargo processes.

And third, we are aiming to provide the necessary capacity for further cargo expansion.

These efforts enable us to expand our passenger network, particularly in the long-haul sector. Of course, this growth influences the development of our cargo strategy as well.

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Southern Germany remains one of Europe’s strongest industrial regions. How does Munich Airport position itself to serve key export sectors such as automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and life sciences?

With a GDP of €824 billion in 2025, Bavaria alone ranks 7th in the EU, ahead of Belgium as a whole.

Southern Germany accounts for over 40% of Germany’s total air cargo volume. It is therefore important for the local industry to have an efficient airport, including in the cargo sector.

As previously mentioned, our cargo strategy aims to ensure that we remain an attractive partner for all key industries in our region. To this end, it is certainly important to continue offering not only an appropriate long-haul network but also fast processes on both the airside and landside, and suitable product-specific infrastructure.

We are therefore also engaged in direct dialogue with leading companies in Southern Germany.

The airport is investing in additional cargo infrastructure, including new handling and staging areas. What operational improvements and long-term opportunities will these developments unlock?

We are taking a proactive approach. For example, we are expanding our cargo handling space by approximately 15,000 sqm. This will allow us to effectively manage the current growth in freight volumes and accommodate future growth. However, this is only a small part of our plans for growth in the cargo sector. We will be sharing additional details soon.

How is Munich Airport adapting its cargo offering to meet the increasing demands of healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chains?

The requirements for this specialised and important product segment at an airport primarily concern the relevant airside and landside processes, as well as the provision of suitable infrastructure. Most of this infrastructure is certified for this purpose.

We are already well positioned in this regard, as several of our on-site handling companies are CEIV and GDP certified and have the appropriate temperature-controlled infrastructure.

How is Munich positioning itself within the growing e-commerce logistics landscape, particularly against larger European cargo hubs?

Despite an upcoming change to EU regulations, e-commerce is now an established commercial reality and of great interest to Munich Airport. Shipments are already passing through our airport. However, they cannot be classified by tonnage or shipment volume because this data is not tracked statistically.

With 26 million people living in the greater Munich area, we have an excellent catchment area and are highly attractive to e-commerce providers. However, because of certain local conditions, many shipments are still sent to other European airports and then trucked to Germany, the largest e-commerce market in Europe.

This results in increasingly longer transit times and additional costs. In this context, we see excellent opportunities for growth.

Digitalisation and automation are becoming increasingly important within airport cargo operations. Munich has recently been testing autonomous freight transport solutions – what role do you see automation playing in the future cargo terminal environment?

Our autonomous cargo transport testing project is exciting. Tasks such as moving cargo, passing through security checks, and stopping at stations take up time and tie up staff during handling operations every day. With this pilot programme for autonomous cargo transport, Munich Airport is exploring how driverless technology can support these processes in the future.

The focus is on the so-called ‘Smart Porter’, an autonomous robot, and a clear vision: In the future, cargo should be able to travel autonomously through security-sensitive areas all the way to the apron.

The current test operation is examining how the Smart Porter can be meaningfully integrated into existing operational processes.

The Smart Porter transports cargo from the cargo area to the security area without a driver, passes through security checks independently, and performs tasks such as automatically coupling and uncoupling dollies and trailers. It operates exclusively on service roads.

The added value for handling operations is clear. In the future, no human will need to undergo security screening to transport cargo. This could shorten travel times, simplify processes, and free up capacity for tasks that require human experience and flexibility.

This pilot project is part of a broader initiative: Since early 2026, Munich Airport has been a member of the ‘Smart Ramp’ research and development (R&D) initiative, in which airports, airlines, and industry partners worldwide are collaborating on digital and automated apron processes. Autonomous cargo transport is a concrete use case within this initiative, and an important step toward sustainable cargo handling.

Developments in the field of automation are gaining momentum and as described in our test operation, offer many advantages. We are really excited about the potential here.

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Sustainability is now a major consideration across aviation logistics. What practical steps is Munich Airport taking to support greener and more efficient cargo operations?

Sustainability is also an integral part of our strategy. We are electrifying our ground fleet, building charging infrastructure, and optimising energy efficiency in cargo terminals and for apron lighting.

In addition, we are promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), exploring ‘green corridors’ with airlines and freight forwarders, and working on certifications that allow shippers to report their carbon footprint on specific routes.

Growth and climate protection can go hand in hand if infrastructure and business models evolve alongside them.

Cargo markets remain heavily influenced by geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruption and changing trade patterns. How is Munich Airport helping customers navigate this increasingly unpredictable operating environment?

Experience has shown that the logistics industry adapts very quickly to changing conditions and new challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic was the best example for this.

Our cargo operations play a central role in our customers’ supply chains and ensure that goods can be transported efficiently and reliably from point A to point B. That is why we maintain constant communication with our customers to identify and implement any necessary requirements in a timely manner.

What is your long-term vision for Munich Airport’s cargo business, and where do you see the airport differentiating itself most strongly within the European cargo sector over the next five years?

With all the aforementioned initiatives, we remain committed to growth and to establishing ourselves as a central European cargo hub.

With two independent runways, solid infrastructure, and targeted investments, we are poised for significant long-term growth. We also aim to attract additional all-cargo routes. Our goal is to offer efficient, fast, and sustainable solutions for the entire value chain: measurable service levels, climate-friendly transport options, and optimal IT availability for real-time decisions.

‘Fast in – fast out’: Our processes are smooth, fast and most-efficient allowing us to continue offering handling that is unmatched in speed and cost-effectiveness compared to other cargo hubs.

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