Fiege Logistics is about to become the new operator of the Cologne Bonn Cargo Center (CBCC), succeeding Emirates’ subsidiary, dnata, which ends its cargo operations there on 31DEC25. This concerns half of the 12,000 m² freight terminal. For the remaining part of the warehouse, a second player has come to light, credible sources told CargoForwarder Global (CFG).
As confirmed to this online portal by people close to the case, contract negotiations between Fiege, dnata and Cologne-Bonn Airport are well advanced. Initial personnel decisions are also said to have been made. Sources say that Christian Bieseke will become the new head of the Cargo Center managed by Fiege, once the contract is signed. That is due to happen on Tuesday or Wednesday, next week, provided that some remaining legal and financial issues have been resolved. Asked about the contractual status, airport management and Fiege remained tight-lipped. “We cannot provide any new information at this time. As soon as there are developments that can be communicated, we will provide the relevant information,” said press officer, Alexander Weise from CGN Airport, in response to an inquiry by CFG.
High expectations end in disappointment
In 2022, dnata started its CBCC journey with high hopes. The takeover of the CBCC ground handling activities from agent, Wisskirchen Handling Services, was supposed to be the start of dnata’s expansion into the German air freight market. However, setbacks soon followed as several airlines turned their backs on Cologne (CGN). The Canadian cargo airline, Cargojet Airways moved from Cologne to Liège (LGG), Egyptair relocated its cargo flights to Hahn Airport (HHN) and Ostend (OST), and Magma Aviation, a capacity provider belonging to the Avia Solutions Group, decided to move from CGN first to Hahn Airport and later to Liège in Belgium.
Exodus
Only the Turkish freight carrier, MNG, has so far remained loyal to CGN by operating scheduled cargo services. This exodus, which the airport management was apparently unable to stop or compensate for by attracting new customers, caused volumes to plummet and siphoned much money out of dnata’s coffers. Finally, last summer, dnata pulled the plug and quit the lease contract for CBCC as of 31DEC25.
Potential operators did not line up
Ever since, there has been speculation about who will succeed the ground handler. Two names were mentioned: CHI Deutschland Cargo Handling GmbH and Fiege Logistik. However, CHI dropped out of the race weeks ago, leaving Fiege as the only applicant – without there having been a tender process beforehand. The company is based near Cologne and made a high three-digit million euro sum with a dubious mask deal during the Covid pandemic. In 2021, its subsidiary FIEGE Air Cargo Logistics GmbH & Co. KG took over the physical cargo handling for Lufthansa Cargo at its Frankfurt Lufthansa Cargo Center (LCC). Yet, that contract expires in 2026 and has not yet been renewed.
Fiege will certainly draw on its Frankfurt experience in the future management of the cargo business in Cologne-Bonn, provided the deal is done.
UPS is said to be interested in parts of the cargo complex
However, as sources close to the case told CFG, the logistics company will only run the “Bravo” area of the CBCC, which offers a ground floor of about 5,000 m². Integrator UPS is interested in taking over the remaining half of the facility. Cologne-Bonn Airport, whose operating permit allows 24/7/365 traffic, is the U.S. package delivery company’s main European gateway. The case is now on the table of the airport’s real estate department. If UPS is awarded the contract, CGN’s vision to become a major destination for e-commerce traffic would be dashed. This is because there is no available ground infrastructure anymore. Either a new building would have to be built to process the parcels and packages, or Fiege would have to start handling e-commerce shipments in its part of the cargo building. However, this does not seem very realistic. Fiege’s communications department did not comment on any of the points mentioned here.
