Brussels Airport recorded strong growth in air freight volumes during May, with cargo throughput rising by 12% year-on-year as demand for dedicated freighter services continued to increase.
The airport handled 75,847 tonnes of cargo during the month, marking another period of robust expansion for one of Europe’s leading cargo hubs.
Freighter operations fuel double-digit growth
The increase was primarily driven by growth in flown cargo, which rose by 12.3% compared with May 2025.
Within that segment, full freighter operations delivered the strongest performance, with volumes soaring by 53.3%. Brussels Airport said the increase was largely linked to rising trade flows with Asia and South America.
Trucked cargo volumes also posted solid growth, increasing by 10.1% year-on-year.
However, not all cargo sectors expanded. Integrator services, which include express parcel operators, declined by 5.4%, marking the first contraction in that segment this year.
Meanwhile, cargo transported in the holds of passenger aircraft, known as belly cargo, fell by 5.3%. The airport attributed the decline to the ongoing impact of disruption in the Middle East, which has affected passenger flight networks and capacity.
Asia and North America remain key markets
Asia and North America continued to be Brussels Airport’s largest import markets and both regions recorded strong growth during the month.
Imports from Africa showed a slight decline compared with the previous year.
On the export side, Asia, North America and Africa remained the airport’s principal destinations. Export volumes to North America and Africa increased modestly, reflecting continued international demand across major trade corridors.
Flight movements edge higher
Alongside cargo growth, Brussels Airport also recorded a slight increase in aircraft activity.
Commercial flight movements rose by 0.6% in May compared with the same month last year.
Passenger flight operations increased by 0.8%, while cargo flight movements were up by 0.4%.
The airport said passenger demand also remained strong, with aircraft operating at higher load factors than a year earlier.
On average, flights carried 147 passengers during May, four more than in the same month of 2025, indicating more efficient use of airline capacity and continued demand for air travel.
Cargo hub continues expansion
The latest figures underline Brussels Airport’s growing importance as a European logistics gateway, particularly for long-haul freight flows between Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The strong performance of dedicated freighter services highlights the resilience of global air cargo demand despite ongoing geopolitical challenges affecting parts of the aviation industry.
With both cargo volumes and passenger traffic continuing to grow, Brussels Airport appears well positioned to maintain its role as one of Europe’s key aviation and logistics hubs throughout 2026.