Air cargo supply in Berlin fully secured in 2020

The approx. 20% decline in international trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic also affected freight traffic volumes in Berlin. In 2020, around 50,000 tons of air freight and mail were handled by air and truck via the freight facilities at Berlin Airports, a drop of 20%.

Of this, around 22,000 tons were carried by air (36% drop). The loss of around 90% of the additional load capacity in passenger aircraft was mitigated by an 18% increase in freight charter and express services. Around 3,500 tons were flown as overnight airmail on behalf of Deutsche Post to Stuttgart (+7%) and around 25,000 tons were handled by the airlines and forwarding companies on land as air freight by truck to the airlines' European hubs via the air freight facilities in Berlin.

At Tegel Airport, air-side cargo loading almost completely came to a standstill due to the suspension of passenger flights in May due to the travel restrictions caused by COVID 19. Nevertheless, with the replacement of air freight by truck for airlines and forwarding agents, the capital region remained well-supplied via the air freight facilities of the Berlin airports. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines kept their wide-body aircraft in service, which were then also used for additional cargo. Among other things, the B767 of Mongolia's MIAT airways, medical goods for all of Europe were transhipped via Berlin instead of passengers.
At Schönefeld, Federal Express was able to expand its handling capacities in June with the takeover of TNT Express in the Express Center. Two B737 freighters connect its European hub in Paris and the former TNT Express hub in Liège with the German capital region.
However, the growth driver was the express service UPS, which, due to the sharp rise in online orders, has opted to connect the capital region to its European hub in Cologne with a B767 widebody freighter. Another UPS freighter has been connecting Berlin with Gdansk in Poland since October.
With the closure of TXL and the move to the BER Cargo Center, the large air freight forwarders DHL, DB Schenker and Kühne & Nagel are once again operating at Berlin's main airport. In addition to the freight handlers Wisag and Swissport Cargo Service, all necessary authorities such as border veterinarians, phytosanitary inspections, and customs ensure transhipment within Europe via BER. At the Cargo Center, Wisag and Schenker operate a cooling center for handling up to 120 Euro pallets in two temperature zones. Around 12,000 m² of cargo handling area are available, which can handle up to 120,000 tons of freight per year. Direct access to the apron ensures the short route to the aircraft.

You can find general information about the air freight location Berlin here, an overview of all facts about the air freight location Berlin here.


Your Contact:
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
Torsten Jüling | Senior Manager Aviation Marketing / Air Cargo
Phone: +49 (0)30-6091-70715
Email: torsten.jueling(at)berlin-airport.de