Retail News CRM

Tag: liege

  • Emirates SkyCargo Expands into Belgium, Adds Liege to Global Freighter Network Amid Rising Cargo Demand

    Emirates SkyCargo Expands into Belgium, Adds Liege to Global Freighter Network Amid Rising Cargo Demand

    Emirates SkyCargo, renowned for being the freight division of the largest international airline worldwide, has recently announced that Liege, Belgium (LGG) is the newest addition to its freighter network. A considerable enlargement of their network is planned throughout the next year, with Liege being the inaugural freighter destination for 2026.

    Strategic Location

    Liege Airport is strategically located within the Amsterdam-Paris-Frankfurt production ‘golden triangle’. Its prime location, combined with unmatched road connectivity, makes it one of the rapidly expanding cargo hubs globally. In 2025, the airport saw a 14% increase in cargo volumes. Over the past years, Emirates SkyCargo has utilized Liege Airport for sporadic freighters, transporting specialized items such as freshly cut flowers, e-commerce packages, and specific charters for horses headed for global competitions. With the continuing demand, the airline will now deploy five weekly freighters, enhancing cargo capacity by 500 tonnes each week to facilitate quick, reliable, and efficient movement of goods.

    Expanded Connections

    Among the five weekly freighters, three will provide connections between Liege, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. These connections will ensure the safe transportation of crucial, temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products through a seamless and efficient cool chain. The remaining two freighters will commence in Hong Kong and transport e-commerce shipments to and via Liege.

    Khawla Abdulla, Vice President of Cargo Commercial for Europe, Emirates SkyCargo, highlights that establishing Liege as a permanent fixture in their freighter network is a strategic decision that enhances their European footprint and offers more connectivity for their global customers. She estimates considerable growth with the deployment of the five weekly freighters, considering the successful transportation of over 15,000 tonnes of cargo from Belgium in 2025. The high-quality infrastructure, freighter-first operations, and well-connected logistics at Liege Airport further support their aim to provide high-level service to Belgium and its neighboring countries.

    Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Liege Airport, expressed his honor at Emirates Sky Cargo’s decision to include Liege Airport in their global freighter network. He views this development as a testament to Liege Airport’s rising importance in the European air cargo industry and further strengthens its position as the largest European freighter hub.

    Continued Expansion

    Europe remains a vital and bustling region for Emirates SkyCargo, with 38 freighters and 538 passenger flights serving it weekly. The airline is planning further expansion, recently announcing the commencement of passenger operations to Helsinki, Finland, in October 2026. With a tentative delivery of up to 10 new Boeing 777Fs by December 2026, along with the continued delivery of passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo is poised for growth and service to more destinations with its top-tier product and service.

    Questions & Answers

    What percentage increase in cargo volumes did Liege Airport see in 2025?
    The airport saw a 14% increase in cargo volumes in 2025.

    How many weekly freighters will Emirates SkyCargo deploy to Liege?
    Emirates SkyCargo plans to deploy five weekly freighters to Liege.

    What is the significance of adding Liege to Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter network?
    This strategic addition enhances the company’s European footprint, providing more connectivity for their global customers, and facilitating the efficient and reliable transportation of various goods.

  • Liege Airport records a strong growth of +23% in the third quarter of 2025

    Liege Airport records a strong growth of +23% in the third quarter of 2025

    Liege Airport (LGG) has been experiencing an upward trajectory in terms of both aircraft movements and cargo volumes during the third quarter. A robust 23% growth in tonnage was recorded for the months of July, August, and September in 2025 as compared to the same quarter in 2024, while aircraft movements increased by 9%.

    Unwavering Performance

    Liege Airport’s performance remains commendable not only in the short term but also over the past two years. The airport’s CEO, Laurent Jossart, shed light on the recent success, stating that the air cargo community processed a significant 334,956 tons of freight in Q3 2025. This figure represents an impressive 23% growth from the previous year’s Q3 tonnage of 272,210. In addition, a year-to-date growth of 14.4% was reported.

    The notable growth of the last quarter was primarily driven by a healthy uptick in e-commerce imports, as well as the robust European exports flown via Liege Airport, which saw a quarterly growth of 26% compared to the previous year. This substantial growth underscores the increasing significance of Liege Airport to the European export industry.

    Concerning aircraft movements, a total of 7,262 cargo flights were operated – a 9% rise from Q3 2024, which recorded 6,691 cargo flights.

    Europe’s Prominent Full Freighter Airport

    Further highlighting LGG’s success is its consolidation as the leading full freighter airport in Europe, a milestone reached in 2025. In the first nine months of the year, Liege Airport became the leading hub for three verticals – flowers, e-commerce, and horses. Jossart added that a total of 961,640 tons of air cargo passed through their facilities.

    Looking at a longer timeframe, from 2019 to 2024, a recent global air traffic survey positioned Liege Airport among the top 5 cargo airports worldwide in terms of freight growth, having experienced a 29% increase.

    Laurent Jossart concluded by stating that this performance solidifies Liege Airport’s strategy of being a sustainable, efficient, and multimodal European logistics hub.

    Questions & Answers

    What has been the growth rate of Liege Airport in Q3 2025 as compared to Q3 2024?
    The airport recorded a 23% increase in tonnage and a 9% rise in aircraft movements in Q3 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

    What factors contributed to the significant growth of Liege Airport in the last quarter?
    The growth was primarily driven by the healthy flow of e-commerce imports and the robustness of the European exports flown via the airport.

    What leadership position did LGG consolidate in 2025?
    LGG consolidated its position as Europe’s leading “full freighter” airport in 2025, handling a total of 961,640 tons of air cargo in the first nine months of that year.