Aena Launches Strategic Plan to Strengthen Air Cargo: the plan aims to facilitate and assist industry operators and is a testament to the commitment of the Spanish airport management company to the sector.
Air cargo is at a crucial juncture, reflected in sustained growth in recent years. The annual average of cargo has increased by 5.3% between 2015 and 2023.
Only in 2023, over 1 million tons of goods were mobilized, representing 7.9% more than in 2022. During the first quarter of 2024, air cargo has maintained satisfactory growth.
On a year-over-year basis, the total freight traffic up to March 2024 has been 1,121,336 tons, representing an 11.7% increase from the previous period, reaching a historical record in freight transport.
The Strategic Air Cargo Plan ensures the future development of air freight transportation, the promotion of air cargo centers, and the development of specific infrastructures for cargo.
Objectives of the Cargo Plan
The Cargo Plan launched by Aena aims to enhance the development of freight transportation, improve the competitiveness of airports with higher cargo activity, and ensure sustained growth of freight transportation in Aena’s airports.
To achieve these objectives, the development, and optimization of infrastructure for air cargo, digitalization of processes, and business development will be enhanced.
Aena expects to grow at an average annual rate in cargo transportation between 4% and 4.5% in the coming years, which allows reaching 1.2 million tons in 2026 and 1.85 million tons in 2036.
In addition, the Plan foresees a total of own investments (CAPEX) of 17.7 million euros until 2026 and 32.5 million euros in the following years.
Digitalization and Innovation
The plan also includes a strategy to accelerate the digitalization and innovation of air cargo activity, including the development of new functionalities for the Cargo Community System and the development of a system to measure quality indicators of services provided at cargo centers.
Regarding business development, another objective of the Strategic Plan is the diversification of operators at cargo airports and the promotion of specialized freight traffic.
To achieve this, key traffic at each airport will be identified, as well as strategic alliances to promote this type of specialized freight and, if necessary, the adaptation of infrastructures and processes.
Aena is working to promote the development of new air cargo routes at network airports and encourages freight transport activity by leveraging operational passenger commercial routes at facilities that provide efficiency, security, agility, speed, and quality to the companies operating in them.
The cargo facilities at Aena’s network airports hold an excellent competitive position compared to those in the European environment. Moreover, they are an unbeatable opportunity for airlines due to their strategic position as a logistics platform for transporting goods between Asia and America.
