ACF Opens And Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Airport Cargo team lines up for TIACA
Incheon. From left to right Steven Polmans, Benny Vandenheuvel, Marc Bogaerts,
Johan Leunen and Nathan De Valck.
FlyingTypers’
last issue pointed out TIACA’s struggle to attract exhibitors, even
from companies with representatives on the organization’s board
of directors. In the interest of balance, we spoke to some of the companies
that are supporting this year’s show. First up: Brussels Airport
Company
BRU To ICN
The initial thought is that there must be
more than six degrees of separation between the political hub of the European
Union and South Korea’s leading airport. In fact, the commonalities,
at least in the skies, are many. It explains why Brussels Airport Company
is one company that will be making the long trek to attend the 27th International
Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition in Seoul over October 7-9.
Johan Leunen, cargo marketing manager at
BAC, said both Asiana Cargo and Korean Air Cargo (operated out of BRU
and BAC) still see ACF as an important means of promotion. “South
Korea is well represented at our airport,” he said. “Our attendance
at TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum is in support of Asiana and Korean and
their air cargo partners, as well as for promoting BRU to other Asian
carriers as an efficient and flexible gateway into Western Europe.
 “We
sincerely hope that other Asian carriers will find their way to BRU as
well. When attracting new lanes and routes, approaching airlines and other
local stakeholders go hand in hand.
“Next to promoting our airport, we
also would like to provide a platform to BRU cargo companies by offering
them a convenient way to join us and to give them an opportunity to be
present, too.”
BAC has been investing heavily in new facilities
and services in recent years and believes more Asian carriers could benefit
from routing flights into BRU, which is now being marketed as “Brussels
Airport – the heart of Europe.”
“Location-wise, we are in the center
of the most important area of that one big Euro market,” said Leunen.
“We offer good facilities, smooth handling processes, and constructive
and cooperative partners, such as customs. But most important is the warm
heart and the passion we carry for our partners.
“Together we look for solutions, efficiencies,
opportunities, and new developments, and always keep an eye on the cost
effectiveness for our partners. As key account managers of the cargo team,
we want to make the difference and customer intimacy is our daily concern.”
BRU, like many European airports and their
airline partners, has not had the easiest of rides over the last few years,
not least due to the general downturn in global air freight demand and
the economic travails that have beset Europe. But this year volumes are
on the rise, up more than 6 percent year-on-year over the first 8 months.
“We expect these volumes to rise even
further,” said Leunen. “Also, volumes have not been bad in
the last two years. We do see a shift from full freighter to belly cargo
and integrators, but that is less important for us. Our focus goes to
facilitating cargo flows and volumes, and we aim for a flexible offer
in capacity.
“Shippers and forwarders need sufficient
routes and destinations, and a mix of belly and main deck capacity in
order to strengthen their presence in our region. This is our challenge
and where we are seeing success and results.”
He said one critical test facing European
air freight operators and airports at the moment is the overcapacity,
which is hurting carrier yields, especially for full cargo operators.
“On top of that, European carriers face huge competition from Middle
East carriers,” he added. “The cargo industry itself also
faces a lot of challenges—some for a long time—such as further
integration of the supply chain, e-freight, operational restrictions,
etc.
“As a partner of the industry, we
share these challenges and work with the industry to overcome them.”
SkyKing
|
