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Brussels Airport reported a 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in cargo volumes in April 2026, underlining the airport’s growing role as a key European air freight and logistics hub amid resilient global trade demand.
Total cargo throughput reached nearly 74,000 tonnes during the month, supported by strong growth in full freighter operations and express cargo services. The increase comes despite ongoing disruptions in parts of the Middle East aviation market, which affected belly cargo capacity on passenger routes.
According to airport data, full freighter traffic recorded one of the strongest performances, rising more than 23 percent, particularly on Asia-focused routes. Express cargo volumes also expanded, reflecting continued demand from e-commerce and time-sensitive supply chains. However, belly cargo transported on passenger aircraft declined due to reduced flight frequencies on certain international sectors.
The April performance extends Brussels Airport’s positive cargo momentum seen since the start of 2026. In February, the airport handled 63,050 tonnes of cargo, up 6.5 percent year-on-year, while January volumes increased 3.5 percent to 61,485 tonnes. Growth has been consistently driven by integrator services, belly cargo demand and improved trucking activity across Europe.
Industry analysts note that Brussels Airport continues to strengthen its position as a multimodal cargo gateway connecting Europe with Asia, Africa and North America. The airport has particularly benefited from growth in pharmaceutical shipments, express logistics and cross-border e-commerce flows. Its cargo community strategy and investments in digitalisation and infrastructure are also helping attract additional freight operators and logistics providers.
The latest figures build on a strong 2025 performance, when Brussels Airport handled approximately 795,000 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 8.5 percent over the previous year. Airport officials attributed that growth to higher express shipments, expanding belly cargo volumes and resilient international trade activity.
As global supply chains continue to diversify and air cargo demand remains steady, Brussels Airport appears well-positioned to capture additional market share in the European logistics sector through 2026.
𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://cargoconnect.co.in/ for more news & updates!
Hong Kong Air Cargo has commenced dedicated freighter operations between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), becoming the first international carrier to launch freighter services from Mumbai’s new airport. The new service began on 16 August 2026 and will operate three times a week using an Airbus A330-200F. The aircraft can carry approximately 60 tonnes of import and export cargo, resulting in six weekly cargo movements between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai. The launch marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong Air Cargo, Aeroprime Group and NMIA, while strengthening India’s international air cargo connectivity. The service is also part of NMIA’s broader international cargo expansion programme, under which 13 new freighter services are expected to be introduced. Aeroprime Group, Hong Kong Air Cargo’s Cargo GSSA in Mumbai, played a key role in coordinating the commercial, operational and regulatory requirements for the launch. The company worked closely with Hong Kong Air Cargo, NMIA and various regulatory stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of operations. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director, Aeroprime Group, described the launch as a landmark achievement, highlighting the extensive planning, coordination and regulatory engagement required to establish the first international freighter operation from NMIA. Raymond Chen, Vice President, Commercial, Hong Kong Air Cargo, said the new service represents an important milestone in the airline’s India growth strategy. He also highlighted the collaboration between the airline, Aeroprime Group, airport authorities and regulatory teams. The new operation is expected to leverage Navi Mumbai’s strategic location to provide customers with enhanced cargo connectivity to Hong Kong and international markets. It further strengthens NMIA’s position as an emerging international air cargo gateway while expanding Hong Kong Air Cargo’s footprint in India’s growing aviation and logistics sector. NMIA began its dedicated freighter operations earlier this month, with IndiGo Cargo launching a service to Sharjah on 1 August. The flight carried 20 tonnes of cargo and marked the airport’s first dedicated freighter service. For Aeroprime Group, the latest launch underscores its role in supporting airlines with market entry, regulatory facilitation, commercial planning, operational execution and network expansion. The development comes as India’s air cargo sector continues to strengthen its role in global trade and logistics. At the 7th Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) World Conclave 2026, ACFI signed two MoUs, a Letter of Intent and a strategic partnership aimed at further supporting the country’s air cargo ecosystem. The latest freighter launch is expected to contribute to the continued growth of Navi Mumbai as an important cargo gateway and enhance trade links between India, Hong Kong and wider global markets. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air has commenced daily flights between Riyadh and Mumbai, marking its entry into the Indian market while adding new air cargo capacity to one of the region's busiest trade corridors. The new Boeing 787-9 service is designed to support both passenger travel and belly-hold freight, strengthening commercial links between India and Saudi Arabia. The Mumbai route forms part of Riyadh Air's international network expansion as the airline continues to build connectivity across South Asia. The carrier is also scheduled to introduce additional services to Dhaka, Islamabad and Lahore during August, further extending its regional footprint. For the air cargo sector, the new service increases available capacity for shipments moving between the two countries. The daily widebody operation is expected to benefit industries that rely on time-sensitive logistics, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, engineering products, e-commerce and high-value manufacturing goods. India and Saudi Arabia have witnessed steady growth in bilateral trade in recent years, driving demand for additional passenger and cargo connectivity. Mumbai, one of India's largest commercial and logistics hubs, is expected to serve as a key gateway for freight moving between South Asia, the Middle East and onward international markets. The launch also aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader aviation strategy to position Riyadh as a global air transport hub by expanding international connectivity and increasing cargo handling capacity. For Indian exporters and freight forwarders, the additional daily service provides greater scheduling flexibility and network options for shipments destined for Saudi Arabia and other markets accessible through Riyadh. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo announced the signing of an interline agreement that will strengthen cargo connectivity, expand network reach, and provide customers with greater access to international markets via Saudi Arabia. The agreement brings together the complementary strengths of both carriers, combining Saudia Cargo’s established cargo presence and expertise with Riyadh Cargo’s expanding global network and digitally native operating model. The arrangement will also support the continued expansion of Riyadh Cargo’s network beyond current direct services to London, Dubai, Cairo, Jeddah, Madrid, and Malaga, while strengthening connectivity to upcoming destinations including Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, and Dhaka. This collaboration supports Riyadh Cargo long-term ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030. Eng. Mansour Alasmi, VP - Network & Revenue, Saudia Cargo, praised this collaboration stating: “By combining Saudia Cargo's established expertise and global capabilities with Riyadh Cargo's future ambitions, we will provide our customers with more integrated solutions to facilitate trade. This aligns with our joint efforts to transform the Kingdom into a premier global logistics hub, while driving sustainable growth for both organizations. Pravin Singh, VP - Cargo, Riyadh Air, said, “As Riyadh Air builds a global airline from the heart of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Cargo has a clear ambition to become a modern, digitally enabled, and reliable cargo business serving customers across key international markets. This agreement supports that ambition by extending our reach, opening new trade opportunities, and helping position Riyadh as an important gateway in the future of global logistics.” Hence, by expanding available cargo capacity and improving the flow of goods across international markets, the agreement will give freight forwarders and logistics partners more efficient and reliable cargo solutions, while extending both carriers’ network reach beyond their own operations. The partnership also supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading global logistics hub, in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030 by strengthening the Kingdom’s global connectivity and reinforcing Riyadh and Jeddah as complementary gateways for trade. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
