Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol maintains cargo growth

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is still ahead of its 2010 cargo throughput, despite a disappointing result for September. 

September’s total of 123,284 tonnes - down 6% on 2010 – resulted from falls in traffic to and from Asia (-15.8%), Middle East (-6.3%) and Latin America (-4.7%). These were partially offset by rises in traffic to and from North America (+7.4%) Africa (+6.6%) and Europe (+3.9%). 

Overall cargo tonnage handled through the airport from January to September now stands at 1,133,773 tonnes  - still up 2.3% compared to the same period in 2010. Schiphol has outperformed 2010 in five out of nine months this year.  

The airport has maintained its third place on the European airports cargo league table, and remains the only one of the top three European cargo gateways to show any year-on-year growth. Its share of cargo handled by Europe’s top 10 cargo airports from January-August (the latest available ACI figure) was 14.4%,  fractionally (0.1%) down on 2010.

Freighters have retained their 57% share of all cargo transported through Schiphol, with a year-to-date total of 650,664 tonnes (up 4.2% on 2010). Freighter aircraft movements for the year to date are up less (at +3.5% on 2010), signalling more efficient use of flights and capacity. 

Says Schiphol Cargo Senior VP, Enno Osinga: “It’s clear that economic worries in the USA and Euro zone are feeding down to cargo traffic, particularly to and from the Far East. Although other markets are still looking robust, they cannot make up for the shortfalls in this major production and consumer region. 

“We are very pleased that our overall tonnages are still ahead of 2010, as we knew it would be a difficult year to beat. But what began as a very positive 2011 is now proving very challenging for the industry, and the last three months of 2011 are not likely to reverse the recent downward trend.” 

He concludes: “Once confidence returns to consumer markets, the picture will improve  again. In the meantime, we continue to facilitate greater efficiency at Schiphol through e-Freight, SmartGate and E-link, assisting our community and supporting our drive to be Europe’s cargo gateway of choice.”