Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) and TRIWO Hahn Airport have signed a partnership agreement aimed at enhancing cargo and passenger activities at both locations. The accord was triggered by an evening meeting between senior managers from both airports on the sidelines of the Air Cargo Europe conference in Munich (02-05JUN25). There, both parties concluded that they have a lot in common. This was followed by familiarization visits to explore business opportunities, prompting the decision to cooperate closely.
Rüdiger Franke, CEO of TRIWO Hahn Airport, is not only an experienced aviation manager, but also extremely polite. When asked which side initiated the collaboration, he let his colleagues from Greenville-Spartanburg take the lead. “GSP’s core business is the import of air freight, but now they also want to boost exports eying supply chains linking our two airports,” says Franke. GSP traditionally lacks export volumes, sharply contrasting import flows.
In recent years, GSP has become a main address for automotive parts flown in from Europe to be assembled to finished products in the local car production plants. What began small with an investment from BMW around three decades ago, has now reached enormous proportions. With annual sales of over USD 27 billion, the automotive industry has become an essential part of South Carolina’s economy. In addition to BMW, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and others have set up production facilities there, as have key suppliers.
South Carolina has become a hotbed of car production
In a nutshell: It is a success story that companies and South Carolina’s policymakers can be proud of. Today, more than 75,000 employees work in the automotive industry. Between 2017 and 2023, 19,500 new jobs were created in this sector, and USD 13.9 billion was invested by car makers and their suppliers during the same period.
Tariffs jeopardize transatlantic trade and the flow of goods
Meanwhile, however, due to Trump’s erratic tariff policy, dark clouds are shading import volumes. Since 21AUG25, Washington demands tariffs of 15% for cars and car parts originating in the EU and destined for the US. Conversely, the EU does not impose special tariffs on vehicles manufactured in the US and sold in one of the 27 member states. It remains to be seen what impact the Trump administration’s tariff policy will have. U.S. consumers will probably foot the bill, as companies will pass on the additional costs to customers by increasing their sale prices.
Facing similar opportunities and challenges
Back to GSP and HHN: In an initial step, both airports plan to identify cargo opportunities and push new activities forward. “GSP and HHN have worked together on numerous successful air cargo projects over the years. Our teams were recently able to meet face-to-face and found that we share similar challenges and opportunities. Agreeing to work together for the betterment of our airports and regions is an exciting next step in our relationship. We look forward to working with our new European airport partners,” said Dave Edwards, President and CEO of the GSP Airport District.
However, shortly before signing the agreement, Hahn suffered a setback. Magma Aviation relocated its five weekly cargo flights between Hahn and Greenville-Spartanburg to Liège to avoid split operations. Belgium, not an industrial giant itself, attracts freight traffic because of user-friendly customs practices, 24/7/365 operations, and because no air traffic control fees are levied (https://cargoforwarder.eu/2025/08/17/german-aviation-has-got-the-blues/)
The Magma loss was partially compensated be two additional cargo flights operated by Silk Way West Airlines which have increased their weekly Hahn services from six to eight.
Similar operational conditions
Like Greenville-Spartanburg, Hahn Airport is also open 24 hours a day and there are no slot restrictions. Its runway length is 12,647 feet and 105,000 tons of cargo are handled annually (GSP = 60,000 t). “This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision for growth and innovation. By combining our strengths and sharing best practices, we can create new opportunities for both passenger and cargo traffic between our regions and customers. We look forward to a fruitful and long-lasting relationship that benefits both airports and our respective regions,” stated Hahn executive, Ruediger Franke, while signing the partnership agreement.
HHN-BLR – an almost unknown partnership
The GSP pact is already the second agreement of this kind for HHN Airport, following its collaboration with Bengaluru, agreed in OCT24. On Hahn’s initiative, the Indian airport attended this year’s Air Cargo Europe/transport logistics trade show for the first time. “Among other things, together with our colleagues from Bengaluru, we are currently discussing occasional cargo flights connecting our two airports,” hints Franke. The intention is mainly driven by industrial giant Bosch’s strong presence in the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bengaluru hosts Bosch’s corporate Indian HQ, and the tech group and automotive supplier is currently building a smart campus in its Adugodi district. Once completed, it will offer a future workplace for around 10,000 employees. Smart service options will ensure that it is efficient to operate, and it will be safe, sustainable, and comfortable, lauds Bosch.
