Cargo B, the Belgian all cargo carrier that started
operations in October 2007, has decided to relocate its hub to Liege Airport (mid 2009) to
further develop its operations as well as its new routes to/from Africa.
Cargo B today operates 3 weekly flights to/from South America (Sao Paolo-Viracopos,
Bogota, Quito and Caracas).
At the end of 2008, its fleet, initially 2 Boeing 747-200Fs, has been replaced by a new
Boeing 747-400F, having a larger capacity of 120 tonnes, and also more efficient in terms
of fuel burn, operational cost and noise.
The delivery of a 2nd 747-400 freighter and the decision to relocate the activities to Liege
Airport mean that Cargo B will operate its present South American and future Africa
routes from Liege. Cargo B will start as from 17 May 3 weekly flights to Africa to
destinations as Johannesburg, Libreville, N’Djamena, Kinshasa and Nairobi. All
destinations will be operated from Liege Airport after the move.
The delivery of the new 747-400 freighter took place on May 11th 2009 from the Boeing
factory in Seattle arriving at Liege Airport this 12th of May in the afternoon.
The majority of Cargo B’s operations will take place during the day, and its flights will
return from these two continents to Liege Airport predominantly with perishable products.
This new activity at Liege Airport will again generate employment and create about
30 direct jobs. « The economical and positive repercussions are most important for the
Region, since in addition to these 30 direct employments, another 75 indirect jobs will be
created », adds Luc Partoune, General Manager of Liege Airport.
« The operational flexibility at Liege Airport, the flexibility of its Customs formalities and
of the Phyto-sanitary procedures, as well as the specialisation of its handling companies
has been a decisive factor for Cargo B Airlines to relocate its activities at Liege Airport »,
explains Eric Gysen, Cargo Sales Manager of Liege Airport.
« The possibility to effectively operate 24 hours per day is essential to optimize the
utilisation of our new B747-400F aircraft », added Robert Kuijpers, President & CEO of
Cargo B.
For Liege Airport, these operations represent an increase of its traffic by 60.000 tonnes a
year, and reinforces its specialization in the logistics of perishable products.
