Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has recorded 1.5 million tonnes of air cargo in 2024, reflecting a robust 8.2% increase compared to the previous year.
The airport reports that the surge was largely driven by e-commerce expansion, shifts in global trade patterns, and disruptions in ocean shipping.
Key cargo categories included electronics, machinery and spare parts, perishables, clothing, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce goods, reinforcing Schiphol’s role as a major logistics hub.
A significant trend in 2024 was the rise of belly freight, which accounted for 43% of total air cargo, up from 39% in 2023. The airport says this shift reflects the continued recovery of passenger flights, which saw a 19.8% increase in belly freight volume.
Meanwhile, full freighter tonnage grew by 1%, despite a small decline in dedicated freighter flights, as aircraft carried heavier loads.
Schiphol’s inbound cargo rose 7.8%, with strong demand from regions including the Middle East (India), the Far East (China, Japan, Korea), Africa (Kenya, South Africa), and the US. Outbound cargo saw an 8.8% increase, driven primarily by demand from the US, as well as notable growth in trade with the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Latin America was the only major region to record a decline, as airlines shifted capacity to meet e-commerce demand from Asia.
Looking ahead, the airport expects the trend toward higher belly freight volumes to continue, further reshaping the cargo landscape at one of Europe’s busiest air freight hubs.
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