“There is far more to Liège Airport than meets the eye,” is the title of a press release this week, which outlines the Belgian airport’s solid freight focus and its many redeeming features. Whatever the airport is doing, it’s certainly working, since a second release on 23MAY25 also announced another new cargo airline customer. Meanwhile, Liège Airport’s own as well as Torsten Wefers’ LinkedIn pages are teasing about “something magical is coming in Munich”, with an amusing, perfectly pro-social-media-type video. What it is, we’ll need to wait and see.
What the release does reveal, however, is the airport’s focus on digitalization, sustainability, and its plans to create “a multimodal cargo paradise in the heart of Europe.” Liège has long been a ‘cargo-first hub’ – ever since it made the strategic decision back in the mid-1990s, to prioritize cargo. And its success is impressive. Over the past five years, it has consistently handled more than a million tons of freight annually, with 1.17 million tons passing through in 2024. It forecasts another 12% growth for this year.
A cargo-first approach
One winning feature at Liège is its unrestricted 24/7 operations which offers a flexibility that is highly attractive for charter operators. In fact, charters account for nearly 40% of Liège’s flights – this is the highest cargo charter ratio in Europe. Over 60% of flights are scheduled, ensuring reliable service. Fast customs clearance, quick turnarounds, and Liège’s prime location at the continent’s crossroads, has resulted in Liège serving over 50 cargo airlines, these days. It also caters to a wide range of cargo commodities, from perishables and live animals to e-commerce.
Frederic Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics at Liège Airport, explained: “When you’ve been in the cargo business as long as we have as an airport, there is nothing that is impossible to move. Our cargo first focus enables us to spot trends, adapt and optimize our processes, and tailor our infrastructure accordingly. We have created optimum conditions for the transport of perishables and live animals, for example. Around 730 tons of flowers pass through our warehouses every day, while our Horse Inn caters to 12,000 horses every year. And we were early adopters when it comes to e-commerce, too. These days, LGG already handles over 1000 million parcels every year, and we’re continuously improving our processes to remain at least three steps ahead of developments in this fast-moving commodity segment.”
Pandemic lessons and digital transformation
The COVID-19 pandemic tested Liège’s resilience. In 2021, despite reduced resources, it handled 1.41 million tons – its highest-ever volume. This experience accelerated digital transformation, with new systems for faster ULD handling and a clear aim of moving from Europe’s fifth-largest cargo airport into the top three by 2030.
Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Liège Airport, said: “There is only one other airport that will be able to match or even surpass LGG in its absolute top quality cargo focus in the next 5 years, and that will be our Digital Twin! We have already completed a number of milestones on our digitalization journey to full data and shipment transparency. This is now our first year of LGG CONNECT – our digital cargo community – and LGG TRACKING which offers real-time cargo movements, is in full swing. And there are exciting developments on the horizon as we begin to harness AI and Big Data to maximize our operational efficiency. Once our Digital Twin is fully live, we’ll be able to anticipate any operational issues and proactively work to minimize any disruptions or safety risks, for example. And it will support us in meeting our environmental goals, too.”
Expanding global reach: The China Cargo Airlines connection
On 23MAY25, Liège’s global role was also further strengthened. A new scheduled cargo route was launched between Liège and Hefei Xinqiao International Airport in China. China Cargo Airlines operates a Boeing 777 freighter on the route, boosting “capacity, efficiency, and reliability for cross-continental cargo,” the release states. It will carry out three flights per week from now on.
Headquartered in Shanghai, the China Eastern Airlines cargo subsidiary is one of country main all-cargo carriers and has a fleet of 15 wide-body freighters. They serve major hubs across Asia, Europe, and North America. This route not only expands Liège’s reach but also gives Hefei, “a rapidly growing industrial center in Eastern China” direct access to Europe.
Sustainability at its core
Sustainability is central to Liège’s strategy. The airport aims for zero carbon emissions by 2030. Already, all electricity for its buildings is generated on-site, and its fuel farm supplies Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Ground handlers are transitioning to electric airside fleets.
Frederic Brun revealed: “We have allocated more than €60 million to green initiatives in the short term, with almost six times that amount invested in long-term eco plans on all levels, from noise pollution reduction to protecting biodiversity in and around the airport, for example. And part of this solution involves making the most of our excellent multimodal infrastructure. There’ll be much more to say about that in the coming weeks. For now, we’re working towards a higher level in our environmental certification to enhance our ACI World standards, and are hoping to perhaps take home the Airport of the Year Air Cargo Week award in Munich, next week. Fingers crossed.” So, with just 7 days to go until the start of the Air Cargo Forum in Munich, we should soon learn what the magical element is that Liège Airport is alluding to, and we will find out if they will succeed in taking home a trophy from the Air Cargo Week awards.
