Budapest Airport cargo team, in collaboration with AirBridgeCargo Airlines, met representatives from Chinese air cargo and e-commerce companies in Shanghai and Hong Kong, to discuss and develop the airport’s growing role as Central and Eastern Europe’s e-commerce gateway.
“Budapest Airport is right on track to becoming the main cargo hub for China in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region,” said Rene Droese, Chief Property and Cargo Officer, BUD, speaking at the conference. “In the last few years the e-commerce market in CEE has increased to EUR 80 billion per annum, and from its central location, Budapest Airport can supply the entire region while also providing world class access for Hungarian exports and imports,” he adds.
BUD’s connections to China have increased this year with a new freighter flight operated by Cargolux to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO), and a new belly cargo connection between Budapest Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport was opened this June.
“Budapest Airport is set to become the ideal e-commerce environment for Chinese trade, and with Budapest Airport Cargo City opening this November, we will not only be supporting growth in the air cargo industry at large, but helping to meet regional demand for Chinese imports and exports,” said Rene Droese.
BUD Cargo City will become Budapest Airport’s dedicated freight terminal which will include warehousing space and a forwarder building measuring 32,800 m2. A 32,000 m2 concrete apron will expand the airport’s capacity for processing cargo with two additional parking positions for the simultaneous handling of two Boeing B-747-8F type aircraft.
