Korean Air Cargo growth continues at Vienna Airport
Automotive products are helping drive up Korean Air Cargo volumes at its busiest airport in Europe.
The increase in Korean Air Cargo’s volumes through Vienna Airport over the last two years has continued into 2022, with up to 13 flights a week to the Austrian capital.
The airline uses Vienna International Airport as its hub between Asia and Europe for customers needing to transport products for automotive production in Central and Eastern Europe. Electronic and pharmaceutical goods also account for a significant share of the cargo volumes.
The airport offers fast transhipment to the European highway network with a comprehensive road feeder network reaching about 23 countries within 36 hours by truck.
Park Joonseok, regional cargo manager Austria, Eastern Europe at Korean Air Cargo, said: “For the coming future, we strongly expect a further increase in tonnages demanded between Seoul-Incheon and Europe. Despite the Corona crisis and without any congestions or disruptions, we have been able to reliably achieve a high expansion of tonnages at Vienna Airport.”
When the airline began cargo operations to Vienna in 2004 it used B747-400F, with B747-8Fs and 777Fs added since 2012.
Tonnages increased by 40% during the Covid pandemic, from 27,700 tons in 2019 to 39,800 tons in 2021. This makes it the airline’s busiest airport in Europe as well as its main logistics hub for the continent.
Michael Zach, vice president sales & finance, ground handling & cargo operations at Vienna International Airport, said: “Air freight is becoming increasingly important in the automotive, electronics and pharmaceutical sectors. The airspace closures over Russia or the congestion at the Chinese seaports increase the demand for reliable capacities, especially between Asia and Europe.
“We are therefore pleased to have Korean Air Cargo as a long-standing and strong partner with whom we can offer these capacities together thanks to our excellent logistics infrastructure and ideal location in Central and Eastern Europe.”
Yvonne Mulder www.aircargonews.net