Budapest Airport achieved a record cargo throughput in 2011, handling more than 100,000 tonnes for the first time.

Flown air cargo volumes grew by 6.4 percent to almost 70,000 tonnes, despite the flat volumes worldwide last year, while trucked volumes more than doubled to nearly 37,000 tonnes, taking total throughput to 106,595 tonnes. The growth builds on substantial increases in 2010, when flown air cargo grew by 20 percent and trucked volumes once again doubled.

The expansion in traffic volumes last year came from a number of airline customers, with Turkish Airlines starting a weekly freighter service between Budapest and Istanbul, and Europe's largest all-cargo airline, Cargolux, also increasing its cargo capacity - including the introduction of its new-generation B747-8 freighter to its Budapest services. American Airlines and Qatar Airways also launched passenger flights to Budapest last year that had significant belly load cargo capacity.

Christa Soltau, vice president for cargo and logistics at Budapest Airport, said: "Many European airports recorded negative growth figures last year, making the growth achieved by Budapest all the more remarkable. It demonstrates that customers continue to believe in the importance of Budapest Airport as a gateway for the local cargo market, and as a hub for the whole central eastern European region, and we intend to build upon this momentum over the coming years."

Budapest Airport, fully privatized, is operated by Budapest Airport Zrt. It is 49.67-percent owned by German company HOCHTIEF AirPort, one of the world's biggest independent airport managers. The remaining shares are owned by four financial investors: Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Montreal; Malton Investment Pte Ltd, Singapore; KfW IPEX-Bank, Frankfurt; and Aero Investment S.á.r.l.

Through its BUD Future project, Budapest Airport aims to be the aviation hub of the CEE region. Leading projects include Cargo City - new on-airport cargo facilities that will feature 140,000 square meters of cargo and logistics terminals designed for airlines, handlers and integrators.

Source: Budapest Airport