• Inland terminals and digitally connected multimodal corridors are becoming critical to airfreight reliability in Europe, easing road congestion, stabilising time-sensitive flows, and integrating factory-to-airport movements through rail, road and barge connectivity.
• Asset-backed networks, enhanced by automation and AI-powered control towers, are increasing resilience and throughput across key corridors such as the Rhine-Alpine route, enabling manufacturers and exporters to maintain agility during disruptions.
• Decarbonisation initiatives, including modal shift programmes, electrified equipment, renewable energy adoption and optimised cold chain practices, are reshaping the sustainability profile of Europe’s logistics ecosystem while supporting more predictable cargo operations.

Airfreight has always thrived on speed, yet its reliability increasingly depends on what happens before and after cargo takes flight. The rise of strategically positioned inland terminals and digitally connected port platforms means cargo can move seamlessly across rail, road, barge, and air corridors. This is especially significant in Europe, where congestion on major road arteries, disruptions in maritime trade, and tightening decarbonisation targets are pushing shippers to demand greater flexibility and efficiency.

As Kai Olschner, Global Vice President Supply Chain Engineering at DP World, puts it, “Strengthening inland Europe’s connectivity to global markets is a strategic priority. We operate a network of inland terminals across six countries, seamlessly connected to our deep-sea ports, warehousing and multimodal corridors via rail, road and barge. This asset-backed system ensures resilient, efficient and sustainable movement of goods from factory floor to customer door.”

Such corridors are not just about moving containers faster. They are about integrating time-sensitive cargo into multimodal flows, ensuring that air freight can continue to serve industries that rely on agility, from automotive to pharmaceuticals. In Olschner’s words, “Our inland terminal in Aiud connects 50 percent of Romania’s industrial GDP to European ports via electrified rail. And along the Rhine corridor in Germany, our hubs in Germersheim, Mannheim and Stuttgart enable time-critical flows for sectors like automotive and engineering.”

Relieving pressure points

The European transport system is facing persistent bottlenecks, particularly in trucking corridors. Air freight volumes are often caught in the same gridlock, with shipments delayed on their way to airports. Here, multimodal terminals offer an escape valve by redistributing flows.

“Resilience is at the heart of our network,” says Olschner. “We offer multimodal alternatives that shift flows away from bottlenecks and congested routes.” He points to Antwerp Gateway as an example.

“We doubled rail capacity with a new rail crane, moving 480 containers per day off the road onto rail – cutting emissions and easing congestion.”

In Constanța, where a new Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) and project cargo terminal provides an alternative route for Türkiye-EU flows, capacity has been added to bypass pressure on Balkan road networks. Technology is also stepping in to enhance throughput. Olschner explains, “We’ve introduced the first drive-through scanner in Central and Eastern Europe – it scans up to 60 units per hour, enhancing trade security and efficiency in Romania.”

The flexibility of multimodal solutions is proving especially valuable during global disruptions. In response to shipping delays in the Red Sea, Olschner notes, “We reactivated an underutilised China-Türkiye rail corridor to keep vital material flowing for our Turkish importers.”

Predictive technologies are making this agility possible at scale. “We use AI-powered Control Towers and predictive scheduling across our inland terminals, enabling real-time adjustments for sectors like automotive, chemicals and perishables,” he says.

The Rhine-Alpine corridor

Germany’s Rhine-Alpine corridor remains one of the most strategically important trade routes in Europe, not least for exporters that rely on air freight to move high-value and time-sensitive goods. Olschner emphasises the critical role of inland platforms here: “Our terminals in Germersheim, Mannheim and Stuttgart are critical to our automotive and industrial supply chains. These inland platforms allow container stripping and consolidation, secure warehousing and value-added services, direct multimodal access to North Sea ports, and real-time visibility and customs clearance via CARGOES Flow.”

For German exporters, particularly in sectors such as automotive, heavy manufacturing, and engineering, just-in-sequence delivery is non-negotiable. These inland hubs give them the ability to control costs while retaining flexibility. Olschner adds, “Our Swiss Basel terminals also support high-value exports such as pharmaceuticals and machinery via low-emission routes along the Rhine.”

What is clear is that inland hubs are no longer mere transit points; they are becoming integrated logistics ecosystems. By combining warehousing, customs clearance, and real-time data flows, they function as an extension of the port and the airport. For air freight forwarders, this translates to faster turnaround, fewer bottlenecks, and lower risks of delay.

Digitalisation and decarbonisation

Beyond physical infrastructure, the real transformation of Europe’s logistics corridors lies in data-driven operations and sustainability initiatives. Automation at Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG), for example, has shown how smart terminals can redefine efficiency. “At RWG, 84 electric automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and 18 cranes operate autonomously with predictive algorithms,” says Olschner. “The results are a 50 percent productivity boost in the warehouse, 60 percent reduction in fulfilment time and a 70 percent drop in workplace incidents.”

Predictive analytics are not just about throughput, but also about reliability. “Over nine percent of global trade flows through our terminals,” he explains. “Predictive data is key to managing efficiency. At Yarimca, Türkiye, our Digital Surveyor App has cut vessel inspection time by 78 hours per month and reduced injury risk by 40%. Across our inland logistics network, we use AI to forecast cargo volumes, optimise dynamic scheduling, and perform predictive maintenance.”

Sustainability is equally central. Europe’s push towards decarbonisation is reshaping how freight is handled, and multimodal systems are a cornerstone of that shift. Olschner highlights initiatives such as the Modal Shift Programme, which has removed millions of truck miles, and renewable energy projects at terminals. “At RWG, we operate entirely with electric AGVs, eliminating diesel-related emissions from internal transport. In Evyap, we are installing large-scale solar arrays, while Antwerp Gateway’s cranes are powered by renewable biogas and wind energy.”

Even cold chain operations are being rethought. “Our Move to -15°C campaign focuses on reducing carbon emissions in the frozen food supply sector by slightly increasing the temperature at which food is stored and transported. This is an example of doing simple things well,” Olschner notes.