Brussels Airport (BRU) experienced a 2.4 percent decline in cargo demand last month, compared to January 2015, handling just over 9,500 tonnes. The decrease, according to the airport, is “entirely attributed” to losses in the full-freight segment (-11.5 percent), which is still recovering from Ethiopian Airlines’ departure from Brussels because it couldn’t get the necessary traffic rights in Belgium to continue operations at the airport.
Ethiopian moved its cargo operations from BRU to Masstricht-Aachen in the Netherlands last November because of the Belgian government’s delay in responding to the carrier’s request for an extension of fifth-freedom traffic rights. Ethiopian wanted to be able to fly onward to Dubai World Central, Hong-Kong Chek Lap Kok and Shanghai Pudong.
Belly cargo carried on passenger aircraft to Brussels increased 3 percent, year-over-year, to 11,700 tonnes, while integrator cargo remained stable, compared to January 2015, at 17,200 tonnes.