MUC Reports Half Year Record Cargo Figures

Obviously, the sales people at MUC’s cargo department have done a remarkable job in recent times. The outcome of their efforts are shown by the latest traffic figures, which attest the airport the best half-year result in cargo ever. According to data, 156,400 tons were loaded or unloaded at the Bavarian capital’s airport from 1 January to 30 June this year, representing an overall increase of 11.6 percent year-on-year. While export volumes leaped 14.1 percent, imports trailed a bit, accounting for  a plus of 7.9 percent.
Interesting and in the eyes of the MUC management very pleasing is the 33.1% jump in tonnage transported by main deck providers. Despite this remarkable increase, shipments flown in the holds of passenger aircraft still account for 83% of the total tonnage moved in MUC.

Broad variety of growth factors
What led to these satisfying half year results?
Firstly, a number of new passenger airlines like Kuwait Airways have decided to fly to MUC, upping capacity and offering network options. Other carriers have increased their frequencies which led to a similar result, driving lower deck capacity offerings to new heights and thus tonnage handled at the airport. 
 “Particularly passenger airlines operating on long distances have increased their flights to our airport, offering the market additional transport options,” explains Markus Heinelt, MUC’s Director Traffic Development Cargo.
Furthermore, the express segment is running strong with UPS, FedEx and DHL reporting remarkable volume increases on their flights to and from MUC.
Thirdly and most remarkable is the acquisition of new main deck providers such as Chinese carrier Yangtze River Express and the upping of flights operated by AirBridgeCargo, for instance.  
Despite these positive tendencies Markus recalls that his main aim is to attract more all-cargo airlines to serve the airport.

Munich’s emancipation
One powerful argument to accomplish this goal he pulls out of his sleeve while speaking with CargoForwarder Global about drivers of the airport’s half year results in cargo: “A number of major logistics companies are increasingly investing in Munich in order to handle and process their shipments right here instead of just consolidating them at local warehouses and truck the consignments onwards to Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Paris where they are then loaded on board an aircraft.”
This indicates a change of cargo flows ton after ton, with Munich gaining a hub status step by step. It’s kind of an emancipation process in cargo after years of dependency from gateways like FRA or AMS with their dense traffic network offered to the market.
Herr Heinelt reminds that roughly 40 percent of total exports generated in Germany are contributed by firms located in the southern parts of the country. This geographical nearness is a major selling point, he states.
A remark that accounts to some degree for neighboring markets in Austria, northern Italy and Switzerland as well which are within a 24 hour range and constantly served by truck from and to MUC.
Asked about his airport’s cargo expectations for the second half of 2015 Markus says that he and his team expect the double-digit growth to continue unabated.

Heiner Siegmund