Brussels Airport has seen cargo volumes plunge year-on-year (YOY) by 8.8 per cent in July to 39,689 tonnes, down on the 43,539 tonnes in the same month last year.

The gateway says volume of all-cargo flights fell by 9.8 per cent compared with July 2015 and put the downturn down to various factors, including certain cargo companies ceasing operations, the cancellation of several flights as a result of business decisions and the economic climate in Asia.

Freighter cargo reached 29,861 tonnes in July, which was a YOY fall of six per cent – down on the 31,772 tonnes in the same month last year. Of this full freighter cargo was 12,799 tonnes (-9.8 per cent) and integrator/express traffic was 17,063 tonnes (-2.9 per cent) – mainly due to the Asian economic situation.

Bellyhold freight was 9,827 tonnes in July, a significant 16.5 per cent YOY drop on the 11,767 tonnes in July 2015.

So far this year, Brussels has handled 270,197 tonnes, a 6.3 per cent YOY fall on the 288,481 tonnes after the same seven months last year.

Full freighter cargo is down 5.7 per cent YOY to 82,240 tonnes so far this year. Integrator/express cargo is up 0.6 per cent YOY to 117,307 tonnes and bellyhold freight has fallen YOY by 16.5 per cent to 70,649 tonnes.