The JV (50/50%) will be operational on 01OCT23. Its name: NUE Cargo Services GmbH & Co. KG (NCS). By bundling their activities, ground service provider, CHI NUE Cargo Handling GmbH, and AirPart GmbH, the handling subsidiary of Nuremberg Airport, intend to offer the market services from a single source. And these include charter flight options, too.
Until now, Nuremberg Airport (NUE), located in the northern part of Bavaria, has not featured among the big movers when it comes to cargo operations and throughput. A total of 95,000 tons were processed last year. Yet, this situation might improve in the near future with NCS becoming a possible game changer. “There are some major industrial players based here or in the vicinity of Nuremberg, that are in dire need of seamless air freight services. That is evidenced by a growing number of freight forwarders that approached us, asking to arrange charter chains ex NUE,” reports Soheyl Rahmani, Managing Director of CHI's Nuremberg station. Mr. Rahmani will also head the upcoming joint venture, NCS, as its Managing Director. In addition to consolidation and BUP services, shipment documentation and customs clearance activities, NCS is seeking approval from the state regulator to become a Regulated Agent. This is the prerequisite to also being able to perform security checks.
Better to fly than to truck
The option of charter flights taking off from NUE to international destinations could trigger additional volumes because this would do away with having to arrange time-consuming, daily road feeder services for consolidated shipments from NUE to FRA or MUC. Less trucking also means fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
These air charter services would benefit the regional industry including some global players located in Nuremberg or in the wider region. “As CHI, we organize the entire flow of their air freight shipments from pick up at the shipper's site to take-off in Nuremberg, Munich, or Frankfurt. We are able to provide all needed services from a single source. This enables us to speed up the complete procedure and reduce the number of involved stakeholders and interfaces,” reasons Mr. Rahmani.
India will become top charter destination
When asked about possible charter destinations, he adds that these could be Bangalore or Mumbai. “In any case, India stands on top of our priority list.”
Nuremberg Airport offers favorable conditions for air freight traffic. In contrast to most German Airports, it is open day and night, all year round, and the runway, measuring 2,700 m, is suitable for the operation of even the largest freighters such as the B747-8F or the AN-124.
The fact that Nuremberg intends to become part of the wider cargo landscape is also proven by the ground infrastructure offered to the industry. Currently, it boasts two cargo centers with a total floor space of 14,400 m², complemented by an office area of 6,550 m² for freight forwarders and handling agents. A third cargo terminal (CCN3), is now under construction, offering handling agents additional 3,600 m² of warehouse space and an office wing of around 1,900 m².
“NUE is very well-positioned”
With its 24/7/365 operating permit, its industrial environment, and in combination with the existing and planned ground infrastructure, Nuremberg Airport is “very well-positioned, which is why we, as CHI, decided to become even more involved there by joining forces with AirPart,” states Kai Domscheit, CEO of CHI-Group.
In addition to Nuremberg, the ground handling agent serves forwarders and airlines at Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg. Alongside its core business, the company offers clients targeted services through its subsidiaries such as CHI Deutschland Cargo Handling GmbH, CHI Aviation Handling GmbH, CHI Trucking Services GmbH, CHI Customs Clearance Services GmbH, CHI MUC Cargo Handling GmbH, and CHI HAM Cargo Handling GmbH, among others.
Heiner Siegmund
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