Frankfurt Hahn Airport sets South India in its cargo growth strategy

In a major move to expand its footprint in India, Frankfurt Hahn Airport has partnered with BLR Cargo, the cargo operations arm of Kempegowda International Airport (BLR Airport) in Bengaluru.

The partnership was announced recently at an event in Bengaluru hosted by Frankfurt Hahn Airport, featuring presentations by Ruediger Franke, CEO of Frankfurt Hahn Airport, along with other speakers.

In his presentation, Franke discussed the partnership and emphasised the airport's features and specialisation. He highlighted that India, particularly South India, represents a strong market with significant growth potential. Franke noted that the partnership aims to establish direct connections between Hahn and BLR, as there are currently only a few direct routes linking South India with Central Europe. He added that, in collaboration with BLR Airport, they aim to increase trade volumes and strengthen the cargo hubs between Hahn and BLR. He also highlighted the rising trade volumes, noting that India is becoming increasingly important to the German economy.

Hahn Airport is owned by TRIWO AG, which took over the airport company on May 1, 2023. Major cargo carriers operating from Hahn include airlines such as Atlas Air, Magma, EgyptAir, Silkway West Airlines, and One Air.

Regarding Hahn Airport, he noted that although it is a small regional airport it handles a substantial amount of cargo, with an annual capacity exceeding 400,000 tonnes.

He also highlighted additional features of Hahn Airport, including unrestricted 24/7 operations, no slot restrictions, and a runway length of nearly 3,800 metres, allowing it to accommodate large widebody freighters like B777 & B747. The airport also has apron space for seven widebody aircraft.

He also mentioned that, unlike other airports in Europe and Germany, Hahn currently has no night curfew. This unrestricted access allows for continuous, around-the-clock flights allowing greater flexibility compared to other airports.

From BLR Airport, Fletcher Samuel, Senior Manager of Cargo Business, addressed the audience, stating that this collaboration could bring significant benefits to all stakeholders. He emphasised that together they would focus on establishing an integrated network that complements their strengths and supports the growing business and industries across the continent. Samuel added that this partnership would further boost trade, stimulate economic growth, and enhance competitiveness in the global market.

The next presentation was delivered by Oliver Hellwig, Managing Partner at Hahn Cargo, a freight forwarding and logistics company that specialises in air freight handling, Hellwig highlighted Hahn Airport as Europe's leading e-commerce hub, emphasising the airport's commitment to growth in air cargo and investment in this direction. He also discussed Hahn's new warehouse, which spans 10,000 square metres and includes advanced features such as an automatic sorting system with a capacity of 20,000 items per hour, six automatic X-ray machines, and one manual X-ray machine.

Hellwig further shared Hahn’s plan to construct a 20,000-square-metre facility, projected to handle up to 400,000 shipments per day.

The other presentation was given by Eugen Beljakov, Operations Manager at VG Cargo, a freight forwarding agency based in Lautzenhausen, Germany. Beljakov highlighted the company’s expertise in handling dangerous goods (DGR), live animals, lithium-ion batteries, and more. He noted that VG Cargo has over 20 years of experience and a team of more than 100 members, with a primary focus on air cargo handling and customs clearance.

The final presentation was given by Joachim Stern, Managing Director of Global Logistics Solutions at FIEGE, a leading logistics company based in Greven, Germany. Stern highlighted FIEGE’s focus on sustainable operations, noting the company’s investment in solar panels on warehouse facilities. He also mentioned that FIEGE was an early mover in the e-commerce sector and has developed a solution to connect dealers with manufacturers. Additionally, FIEGE is investing in logistics and technology companies to enhance its service capabilities.

Akshat Pushp, Chief Business Officer of Apollo Supply Chain, also joined the presentation. He highlighted Apollo’s partnership with Fiege, established around 2012-2013, which has since bridged the customers of two distinct geographic regions, offering comprehensive, one-stop solutions for cargo needs. Pushp emphasised that in today’s air cargo industry, connected cargo terminals are essential, as a lack of integration can lead to underutilised assets and operational inefficiencies.