Brussels Airport to invest €200M, create 3,000 new jobs

[Inquirer]

The airport and partners are going to invest €200M in new cargo infrastructure for an unspecified pharmaceutical company which will help them in creating up to 3,000 additional jobs by 2020; currently there are close to 20,000 people working at the airport.

http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio ... luchtcargo

[Squelsh]

Press release
Brussels Airport invests heavily in logistics

Brussels Airport, 30 November 2012 – Since two years Brussels Airport is implementing a new strategy to play a key role as intercontinental air cargo hub. Compared to other transport sectors, air cargo provides an exceptional added value to our economy. Worldwide cargo development has a growth potential that is much higher than our domestic economic growth rate, which means that it can be a driving force for economic growth and job creation in our country.

Attracting and rooting international forwarders and airlines is the cornerstone of the new strategy Brussels Airport develops with regard to air cargo. Their commitment to our national airport is furthered by providing them with a state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure tailored to their specific needs. In total The Brussels Airport Company and its various partners will invest over € 200 million:

- The Brucargo West project includes the construction of three large cargo buildings in the period 2009-2013. Together they represent a surface area of 70,000m² of highly specialised storage space – the equivalent of 14 soccer fields – and accompanying office space.

- The central office building “Brucargo 706” will be entirely renovated in the course of 2013 – 2014 and will provide over 50,000 m² of office space in the very heart of the cargo area. The presence of airlines, forwarders, customs and other government agencies under the same roof guarantees a permanent, high-quality service to all Brucargo users.

- The 30-year old buildings in the “Brucargo 2010” area, the usage contracts of which are running to an end or have already ended, will be thoroughly renovated or pulled down and replaced by modern cargo buildings. By 2016, this will provide a total of 50,000m² of brand-new, specialised buildings for logistics activities.

- Near Brucargo West there is room for two big handling buildings with direct apron access. The construction of these buildings is planned in the period 2014 – 2016. Together they will represent a surface area of 48,000m².

- Earlier this year, the Flemish Government and The Brussels Airport Company invested in an access road from Brucargo to motorway E19, allowing trucks to directly access or exit the motorway efficiently and in all safety.

- The “Brucargo Secured Gateway” concept aims at optimising the entire logistics process for the inbound and outbound cargo, its storage and the loading and unloading of aircraft in the safest and most secure conditions. This includes faster and better controlled processes through the use of integrated data processing and simplified customs procedures. The Brucargo zone is gradually being turned into a secured access-controlled area.

The commitment of numerous shippers, forwarders, airlines and handlers to Brussels Airport helps our country to become an international hub for specialised shipments including valuables, dangerous goods and perishables such as vegetables, fruit and flowers. Brussels Airport is particularly focusing on the transport of pharmaceuticals, which are expected to become even more important to international air transport in the decades to come. In doing so, Brussels Airport at the same time supports the pharmaceutical industry, a sector in which both Flanders and Wallonia are highly rated in Europe. These investments too, which focus mainly on security, and the thorough attention paid to preserving the cold chain for refrigerated shipments, contribute to a long-term engagement to our economy and constitute the main attraction for our existing and future airfreight partners.

The impact of these investments will become apparent particularly in the medium term and when the economy starts to recover, but already today Brussels Airport is doing noticeably better than most neighbouring cargo airports due to this new strategy.

Arnaud Feist, CEO of The Brussels Airport Company: “Since two years we have succeeded in binding international forwarders to Brucargo, and for the first time we see that even major shippers/end users are establishing themselves at the cargo airport itself. In spite of the worldwide crisis that affects air cargo, carriers are attracted by the presence of many specialist partners at Brucargo and the markets they open as well as by the cargo infrastructure we provide. Globally, growth potential in air cargo is estimated at an
annual 4% until 2020; in Europe we expect 2 to 3 percent. Our new cargo strategy is intended to allow us to match this growth rate. During these 8 years, the development of our cargo activities should allow us to firmly position our airport and our country in the European cargo landscape while at the same time creating 3,000 additional jobs. That is why, over the next five years, we and our partners plan investments to an amount of over € 200 million.

Moreover, a sound cargo activity is essential in providing new direct long-haul destinations for passengers: that too is an activity with high added value for our economy and employment in a wide range of sectors.”



About Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is one of the largest airports in Europe, handling 18.8 million passengers and 475,000 tonnes of freight annually. Brussels Airport links the European capital with 231 destinations worldwide that are served by 88 different airlines: 74 passenger airlines and 14 full-freighter airlines (figures 2011).
Brussels Airport is dedicated to become the most European, most efficient and most welcoming airport in Europe. Brussels Airport caters for the specific needs of the business travellers, but also has the largest low-fare offer in Belgium.
Brussels Airport is operated by The Brussels Airport Company. The shareholders are the Belgian State (25 percent) and a consortium of private investors (75 percent).
Follow us @brusselsairport on Twitter or on http://www.facebook.com/brusselsairport.

[sean1982]

Great, first the government(s) did everything to chase cargo airlines away, and now they're gonna try and get them back.

I wonder how long it's gonna take before action groups will go to court cause they don't want nightflights over their house. The brussels government will refuse extra flights over brussels, and the flemish government over the "rand". Hopefully the investment will get it's return

[Mirror]

What a joke... Do we remember DHL ? I agree with sean
Largest low fare offer of Belgium ?

[Acid-drop]

It looks like a big joke to me ... the cargo is dying in BRU for many reasons, some wanted by the gov, some unwanted but nethertheless very real. There are a lot (actually, too many) cheaper and better alternative in a 300km radius.
plus, their idea of bio-logistics already exists ... 90 km away : http://www.biologeurope.com/
The idea is from 2008, almost 5 years ago : http://www.lalibre.be/economie/actualit ... otech.html
Stealing is baaaaaad.

[Inquirer]

It may sound like a joke, but they claim to have a big pharmaceutical customer pushing for the project.

Interestingly enough, the new route Brussels Airlines is rumoured to be considering opening is Boston...

too much of a coincidence, maybe?

[Passenger]

It looks like a big joke to me ... the cargo is dying in BRU for many reasons, some wanted by the gov, some unwanted but nethertheless very real. There are a lot (actually, too many) cheaper and better alternative in a 300km radius.
plus, their idea of bio-logistics already exists ... 90 km away : http://www.biologeurope.com/
The idea is from 2008, almost 5 years ago : http://www.lalibre.be/economie/actualit ... otech.html
Stealing is baaaaaad.

Some see competition as a challenge, others see it as a threat. For some in/around Liège, competition from Brussels Airport surely is not a challenge.

Meanwhile, Brussels Airport has set up a website for passengers from The Netherlands:
http://www.brussels-airport.nl

[RoMax]

If they play this smart (they are not investing 200 million without firm contracts of companies that will settle them in these buildings) this is everything but a joke. Belgium is HUGE in the pharmaceutical industry and investing in this sector is always worth it. It's not because LGG became bigger that they suddenly have to give up in the cargo sector. They still have huge cargo operators at their airport. BRU succeeded to grow a little bit or shrink only a little bit on the cargo side for the biggest part of the year, contrary to LGG.

Btw, the first building is already finished quite some time ago, many new companies settled at the airport thanks to that building, the second building is for DHL, the 3rd is still to be build but it seems they also have at least one big company to settle them overthere. I don't see a lot of risk in this?!
For the airside investments, of course you first need to have capacity, good infrastructure and good landside connections (and local companies) before you can get new air traffic to the airport. The other way around is not going to work. So again, I don't see what's wrong with this investment.

[cnc]

cargo ops need night flights

[RoMax]

cargo ops need night flights

Not all cargo operations need a huge amount of night flights. Besides that, landside development is not only about attracting new cargo flights (best exemple, the second building of Brucargo West will be for DHL...didn't they left? Exactly)

[Squelsh]

Belgium is HUGE in the pharmaceutical industry and investing in this sector is always worth it.

Indeed, thank you...Hence Aviapartner opening a Pharma HUB on BRU.

I work for big-enough cargo player, the yield with Belgian-made pharmas is astronomical, off the charts FOR YEARS NOW...

"stealing is bad".. Get a clue first moron, grow a pair and stop whining.

Cargo ops loves night flights (or say "hates curfews") because in this business, time is money.

Great, first the government(s) did everything to chase cargo airlines away, and now they're gonna try and get them back.

I wonder how long it's gonna take before action groups will go to court cause they don't want nightflights over their house. The brussels government will refuse extra flights over brussels, and the flemish government over the "rand". Hopefully the investment will get it's return

"Air Libre" (how v Flemmish this sounds) in Brussels will do what it can, yes. As to be expected.. The computers with online connection to send in noise-abbatment breaches reports are still turning.

We'll see, keep it up.... Plan B one-way-ticket is on the way Mister Marshalplan... And please, don't get all emotional and start replying like a 16yr old.... Waste of time/bandwith.. Go check some fuel forms or whatever

[cnc]

cargo ops need night flights

Not all cargo operations need a huge amount of night flights. Besides that, landside development is not only about attracting new cargo flights (best exemple, the second building of Brucargo West will be for DHL...didn't they left? Exactly)

DHL never left, they only moved most of their european flight ops.
and yes not all cargo ops need night flights but to become a decent cargo hub you do need to allow night flights.
look at SV, when its too late they have to make their fuel stop in OST

[Squelsh]

look at SV, when its too late they have to make their fuel stop in OST

Last rumour I heard about this company their fuel-stops, they will go Kingdom direct to USA.

Very restricted payload, but they plan to ditch EU mainland for their USA bound flights. As from next year I believe.

+ word has it they 'll be flying 747 dash 8 in a year or two? Didn't know they had any on order..

[RoMax]

DHL never left, they only moved most of their european flight ops.
and yes not all cargo ops need night flights but to become a decent cargo hub you do need to allow night flights.
look at SV, when its too late they have to make their fuel stop in OST

You now what I ment with DHL that left...
And yes to be a decent cargo hub you should have the capability to accept quite some night flights. On the other hand, that's outside BRU's power. Does that mean they have to give up and just let Brucargo like it is? I don't think so, but of course that's my idea.

[Acid-drop]

If they play this smart (they are not investing 200 million without firm contracts of companies that will settle them in these buildings) this is everything but a joke. Belgium is HUGE in the pharmaceutical industry and investing in this sector is always worth it

The big contract is indeed confirmed and explain certainly a big part of the investment, but it's hard for me to understand how they go from "something low and limited" to something "very big", almost impressive, in one night.
Night flights isn't an asset of BRU, but there is a big asset you forget : belly cargo. I get they'll use it intensivelly ... I don't see how they would create new cargo link for only medications ... but who knows ...

Btwn Janssen pharma (part of Johnson & Johnson) just inaugurated a big european logistic center in La Louvière a few days ago ... maybe there is a link. It's the 3rd distribution center in Belgium (1 other in Charleroi and one in Turnhout), and all this for one company only.

Btw, the pharma sector in Belgium represents 12% of the export. (in value I guess ..., doesn't say)

Squelsh, if you can't control yourself, we'll do it for you.

[cnc]

look at SV, when its too late they have to make their fuel stop in OST

Last rumour I heard about this company their fuel-stops, they will go Kingdom direct to USA.

Very restricted payload, but they plan to ditch EU mainland for their USA bound flights. As from next year I believe.

+ word has it they 'll be flying 747 dash 8 in a year or two? Didn't know they had any on order..

i guess they will come from ABD like some 744's currently

And yes to be a decent cargo hub you should have the capability to accept quite some night flights. On the other hand, that's outside BRU's power. Does that mean they have to give up and just let Brucargo like it is? I don't think so, but of course that's my idea.

you are right but somehow i feel the brucargo project is too optimistic and will waste a lot of money

[cnc]

Night flights isn't an asset of BRU, but there is a big asset you forget : belly cargo. I get they'll use it intensivelly ... I don't see how they would create new cargo link for only medications ... but who knows ...

if BRU wants a return of invested money they need full freighter services, not belly cargo.
not to mention that belly cargo never has a guarantee of available space

[Squelsh]

Btw, the pharma sector in Belgium represents 12% of the export. (in value I guess ..., doesn't say)

I remember LX flights with 800 kgs palladium powder to NY and few tens of kilos of rough and polished diamonds. Counts too for daily national export statistics, but it is not the same thing..

belly cargo never has a guarantee of available space

You can have guaranteed space on belly, but it is expensive. Swiss offers it on xpresso, SN too with their AES, Iberia with ICC, but parcel weight and dims are always v restricted.. More for courier, but cutoff time is short too.

[RoMax]

Btwn Janssen pharma (part of Johnson & Johnson) just inaugurated a big european logistic center in La Louvière a few days ago ... maybe there is a link. It's the 3rd distribution center in Belgium (1 other in Charleroi and one in Turnhout), and all this for one company only.

Btw, the pharma sector in Belgium represents 12% of the export. (in value I guess ..., doesn't say)

That's exactly what I want to say. This sector is huge in Belgium, you have to invest in it or you'll lose it to surrounding countries.

I assume it's indeed value when talking about that 12%, but that's exactly why it's even more important for the Belgian aviation sector. Freight transport by air is only worth the high cost when talking about products that have a high value density.

Btw, about Janssen Pharmaceutica: it's Beerse, not Turnhout (it's the region of Turnhout, but let's be correct, I live partly in Beerse and I don't want to hear that they are situated in Turnhout as it's the only big company in Beerse to be proud of, haha ).

This sector contains huge value for the Belgian economy and aviation is part of that. Both for pax airlines as for cargo airlines. You would be suprised about the amount of business traffic between Belgium and Boston (flying through hubs like LHR and FRA now) thanks to the pharmaceutical and bio industry.

[Acid-drop]

so maybe the big advantage of BRU is the high class link they have to leipzig ?
Or road traffic ?