keynote feature ProAir sees its automotive business return


Andreas Wald, general manager of Stuttgart-headquartered broker and aircraft operator ProAir, observes: “In general, 2010 proved to be a very successful year for us. “Although we had expected some more business during the traditional peak period in this


fourth quarter, the automotive market picked up rapidly,” he said. “Suppliers had adapted their production schemes to the low demand ... but they were


required to increase production in 2010 within a short period. This led to shortages in the supply chain, which is always a boost for ProAir’s business,” Wald explained. “As a consequence, we have added a Beech King Air 90 to our fleet, which is used for


automotive cargo and passenger flights.” What is more: “This year has already started well for ProAir, with the preparation of a big


event for a German automotive manufacturer in February and March.” Even without these one-off jobs, Wald remarked: “With Germany being a traditionally


strong export nation, there is always good business to be found if a (late delivery) penalty is threatening or a final destination cannot be reached by scheduled air service or by any other means of transport.”


have an airport attached aswell,”vanHessen remarked. Cologne-Bonn handled over 650,000 tonnes of freight last


year, a gain of 17 percent over the 2009 figure, and this despite the previous loss ofDHL to Leipzig and its replacementwith FedEx in an operation that is only now gatheringmomentum. Everymonth sawa double-digit increase in throughput,with the exceptions of April (the month of the ash cloud) andDecember (with snowaffecting Western European flight services). What ismore, there is further growth expected this year, with the airport operator forecasting an air freight throughput


capable of handling long-haul freighters,”van Hessen observed. General cargo has been verymuch Cologne’s third activity


after low-cost passenger and express traffic, but it is catching up fast, and it is his contention that the gateway can only gain as othermajor hubs suffer congestion and find their night- time operations increasingly constrained. Situated in themiddle of Europe’s strongest economic


region, Cologne-Bonn is enjoying the benefits of an excellent surrounding transportation infrastructure and a 24-hour operating licence equips the airportwell for substantial growth in the future.


of 716,000 tonnes, a 9 percent year-on-year increase. Suffice it to say: “Theminutewe fill the current phase of the newcargo centre,wewill build a second temporary one,whichwill bridge us over to completion of the full second phase,”van Hessen pointed out. The big, global express carriers – UPS aswell as FedEx – are


doing very nicely at Cologne-Bonn. “I think the express business suffered less in the recession because it has a broader customer spread than‘heavy’air freight; itwas the big capital-intensive industries thatwere hit hardest” is his assessment. Do not be fooled by the designation of the FedEx facility as Euro II hub by theway. “This is a 50,000m2, fully automated facility – every bit as big as the Euro I hub in Paris, and fully


DÜSSELDORF RENAISSANCE There is also good news fromanother German gateway. Cargo traffic throughDüsseldorf International airport during 2010 exceeded all previous annual figures.Düsseldorf Cargo Logistics, the biggest air freight handler at the gateway, reports that it passed the landmark 100,000-tonne figures for the first time, powering past the previous year by 30.5 percent and 2008 by 11.5 percent. GertonHulsman,managing


director ofDüsseldorf Cargo Logistics, states: “As our company enters its tenth anniversary year (2011), the airport is experiencing a renaissance in both cargo and passenger traffic, as the post- recession economy expands.Ourwide range of bellyhold capacity, providing 185worldwide destinations, is ourmain strength andwe handle over 50 inbound and 30 outbound carriers.” Hewent on: “On 27Marchwewillwelcome Air China,


Hulsman – bellyhold is “our main strength”


serving Beijing directly three times perweekwith A330-200 aircraft. This frequencywill be increased to four times aweek


AIR LOGISTICSCHINA 15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32