Ostend-Bruges International Airport and Chunnel operator, LeShuttle Freight, have set up a strategic partnership to streamline UK-bound air cargo flows from the coastal airport. Its geographical proximity to Coquelles near Calais is an advantage that Ostend Airport can leverage. Coquelles is home to the entrance of the Eurotunnel, which connects France with Folkstone in the UK. With a length of 50 km, it is the longest underwater tunnel in the world. Shuttle trains take 35 minutes to pass through. Operator Le Shuttle offers 87 crossings per day.
“Strategically located just 95 km from the LeShuttle Freight terminal in Coquelles, France, Ostend-Bruges Airport enables cargo to reach the UK in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes after arrival under optimal conditions. By combining each other’s strengths and expertise, this partnership establishes a seamless logistics corridor for time-sensitive goods,” both parties claim in a joint press release.
Strong UK ties
Ostend-Bruges’ contribution to this collaboration agreement is its 24/7 operation with no slot restrictions. “That positions the airport as one of the most efficient cross-Channel gateways for urgent freight, offering unmatched speed and access,” the press release points out.
“Ostend has always had a strong UK customer base, so the cargo is already there,” says the airport’s CEO, Nathan De Valck, who took the helm of the Flemish regional airports on 16JUN25. https://cargoforwarder.eu/2025/05/18/nathan-de-valck-becomes-the-ceo-of-the-flemish-airports/ “There are the perishables, mainly coming from our long-standing Egyptair traffic, of which even today the largest part is shipped to the UK.”
“We also want to incorporate this collaboration into our future growth, by attracting more carriers and volume. Our growth is also LeShuttle Freight’s growth. In this respect, we would like to focus on sustainability and products needing speed, such as the aforementioned perishables, as well as e-commerce and urgent consignments.”
Dyed-in-the-wool Customs Authority
Since Brexit, exports to the UK are subject to more complicated compliance processes regarding customs clearance, veterinary and food safety, but that has basically always been the case, Mr. De Valck adds. “Our Customs Authorities are set up for these processes. In fact, the entire Customs apparatus along the Belgian coast, including the ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend, has always been tailored to UK transit.”
According to Peter Roberts, Freight Commercial Strategy Director at LeShuttle Freight, speed, efficiency, and customer care are at the core of his company’s services. “Partnering with Ostend-Bruges Airport allows us to move cargo seamlessly to and from the UK, while optimizing the flow between road and air transport. Together, we are creating a logistics corridor that is both agile and resilient,” he says.
Decreasing volume
In 2024 Ostend-Bruges International Airport handled a total of 18,124 tons, a 45% drop against 2023’s 33,051 tons. The decrease was due to the discontinuation of the Qatar Cargo operation in APR23 and the closure of the runway between 25JAN24 and 27MAR24. Over the first 8 months of 2025, the volume was 13,552 tons, compared to 18,277 tons over the same period in 2024 (-25.8%). The airport’s all-time record year was 1999, when 107,984 tons were reached.
