CARGO AIRPORTS EUROPE FEATURE
Matthews
“Heathrow’s capacity crunch is harming UK growth”
freight traffic slightly on the previous year’s performance; the gateway processed 1,523,806 tonnes of freight and mail over the course of 2011, up by 0.8 percent on 2010. This improvement was achieved
despite the weakness of the Asian sector, with additional frequencies to the US compensating for losses on the Far East routes. According to Schiphol Cargo senior
vice president Enno Osinga: “2011 began very promisingly, but soon revealed itself as a very challenging year for the industry. We take some comfort from the fact that we have still managed to show growth over 2010, and that ours was the only positive result among Europe’s top three gateways.” Meanwhile, Schiphol continues to
invest heavily in its handling and processing infrastructure and systems. For example, its SmartGate Customs initiative continues, while the Seamless Connections initiative seeks to work with the rest of the region’s industry to “streamline the logistics flow”. London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest
passenger gateway, is no slouch when it comes to the freight business either. Airport operator BAA has already sold its London Gatwick gateway and is expected to sell Edinburgh airport soon, while it is also being forced to divest London Stansted airport situated to the north-east of the UK capital. However, Heathrow remains the jewel
in the BAA crown. The airport processed 1,484,487 tonnes of cargo last year, up by 0.8 percent on the 2010 figure. BAA chief executive Colin Matthews
remarked: “BAA airports have demonstrated resilience in the current weak economic environment. However Heathrow’s capacity crunch is harming UK growth. Business leaders in the world’s fastest-growing economies say they are put off investing in the UK because of a lack of direct flights.” He observed that Heathrow’s traffic
with China had declined in January this year, “which is in marked contrast to the 9 percent annual growth rates experienced by our European competitor hubs. This provides clear evidence that capacity constraints are damaging the UK economy today when the country can least afford it.”
German heavyweights Germany’s Leipzig/Halle International airport had a very successful 2011, with cargo traffic through the gateway rocketing to nearly three- quarters of a million tonnes of freight during 2011. It achieved a new record annual
AIR LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT 57
Enno Osinga
“Ours was the only positive result
among Europe’s top three gateways”
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