Cargo volumes drop at Brussels due to terrorist attacks

Air cargo volumes at Brussels airport in Belgium are down for 2016 so far, suggesting that the terrorist attack in March has had long-lasting effects.

Overall year-on-year freight volume for July was down 8.8%, from 43,539 tonnes in 2015 to 39,689 this year. Freighter volume dropped 6%, while belly cargo (cargo in passenger aircraft) fell an even more substantial 16.5%.

Taking in the full seven months since the start of the year, total cargo volume decreased year-on-year 2.1% from 203,823 tonnes to 199,548 tonnes, and freighter cargo and belly cargo both revealed similar percentage losses to their July-specific figures.

The loss of volume is due in part to the economic outlook of Belgium as a whole, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, but it is also attributed to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Western Europe, not only in Brussels but in Paris too, which has led to reduced activity.

German airports, however, are on the rise, with Munich experiencing 2.9% year-on-year cargo growth in July and 4.1% year-on-year growth for the first seven months of 2016.

(Source: Air Cargo World)

If you are looking to send a cheap parcel to Belgium, Transglobal Express can offer fantastic rates with all the top carriers.