Brussels Airport’s cargo volumes continue to recover, growing by 15 per cent in November, with the surge in full freighters making up for belly cargo continuing to struggle.

Total cargo rose by 15.2 per cent in November to 45,564 tonnes, with freighter tonnage increasing 26.8 per cent to 34,914 tonnes.

Freighter traffic increased by 55.5 per cent to 16,725 tonnes helped by strong volumes from airlines including Etihad Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo.

Integrators registered healthy growth of 8.5 per cent to 18,188 tonnes due to preparations for season’s festivities.

Belly cargo continues to struggle, falling 11.4 per cent to 10,650 tonnes, with strong growth from United Airlines and Brussels Airlines not being able to compensate for Jet Airways moving to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Cargo was down by 0.8 per cent on a year to date basis to 445,118 tonnes, mainly due to the 13.3 per cent slump in belly cargo to 113,957 tonnes. Freighter cargo remained strong, up 4.4 per cent in total to 331,262 tonnes, with full freighter rising 8.4 per cent to 133,544 tonnes and integrator by 1.4 per cent to 186,367 tonnes.