Automotive demand drives K+N’s new Budapest charter flight

Kuehne+Nagel has launched a new charter route between Hong Kong International and Budapest Airport as it looks to capitalise on high-tech and automotive demand.

The service will operate on a weekly basis utilising a Boeing B747-8F aircraft with a capacity of more than 100 tonnes per flight. After stopping at Budapest, the flight will continue to Liege.

“The service will supply vast air cargo potential to developing high-technology, automotive, and additional pertinent cargo industries in the catchment area of the airport,” Budapest Airport said in a news release.

René Droese, chief development officer, Budapest Airport, said: “Regular full freighter operators, belly cargo service providers, integrators and road feeder operators have always had a key role and high importance on this, and now as a latest trend, forwarding companies have started their own long-haul widebody cargo charter operations to Budapest in the last two years.”

László Szabó, head of air logistics department, Kuehne+Nagel Hungary, added that lithium batteries were a key commodity that would be carried by the service.

József Kossuth, head of cargo, Budapest Airport, commented: “Despite the ever-changing challenges in global supply chain and the logistics market, the airport’s cargo community sees excellent development potential linked to Budapest, which is also powered by long-term positive effects.

“One such example is the booming e-vehicle industry in the capital city catchment zone; the extensive recent investment into e-vehicles, car parts and battery production in Hungary, will have a progressive effect on Budapest’s air cargo growth.”

Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) saw its overall and airfreight profits continue to soar in the first quarter of 2022.

Damian Brett  www.aircargonews.net