In the first quarter of 2024, 68,058 tonnes of air freight were handled for import and export at Vienna Airport – a year-on-year increase of 16%, the airport reports.

Compared to the pre-coronavirus year 2019, the current figures represent a growth of 1,417 tonnes, with the tonnage handled in the Pharma Handling Center in the first quarter also increasing by 6.9% to a total of 886 tonnes.

The airport puts the positive figures primarily as a result of the significant increases in belly cargo on passenger aircraft. Compared to the previous year, the resurgence in air traffic has created additional cargo space, which is in high demand.

In the first quarter, the volume of belly cargo more than doubled, increasing by 52% to 27,131 tonnes; a development which the airport says more than compensated for the 12% decline in handling volumes for cargo-only aircraft to a total of 20,238 tonnes.

In addition to one-off effects in the previous year, the airport says the main reason for the decline in the freighter-only sector was the transfer of cargo shipments to passenger aircraft.

The volume of trucking increased by 15% year-on-year to 20,678 tonnes.

Looking at imported and exported air freight, the airport’s figures reveal a balanced picture. Both areas grew equally; 37,468 tonnes of imported freight (up 14%) contrasted with 30,572 tonnes (up 17%) that were shipped to global markets via Vienna in the first quarter.

Michael Zach, head of handling services at Flughafen Wien AG, said: “The development of air freight in the first quarter gives us cause for optimism. Demand for air freight is picking up noticeably, both for general cargo and for pharmaceutical shipments, which we handle in our own state-of-the-art pharmaceutical centre.

“The flight schedule change has already added additional long-haul capacity to North America and Asia. We are prepared for further growth in order to strengthen and expand our role as an air cargo hub for Central and Eastern Europe with these and other connections to international markets.”

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