BRUcargo community forms new nonprofit

The cargo community at Brussels Airport has formed a new nonprofit organization, Air Cargo Belgium, to represent the air cargo industry and all the stakeholders at the airport. The new entity is to be led by the airport’s head of cargo, Steven Polmans.

The airport, Polmans said, already has a BRUcargo Strategic Committee, which meets regularly with all organizations at the airport to discuss the long-term and strategic development of the airport. “We now want to enter a next step, from a committee to a formal organization, with [its] own funding and staffing,” he said.

Air Cargo Belgium, to be launched in February 2016, will allow the Strategic Committee to move forward faster and in a more structured way. The organization will work on topics such as e-cargo, forming a new cargo community platform and creating different logistical applications. Additionally, the group wants to work with schools to develop educational programs and training.

BRUcargo has made many recent improvements in efficiency after being certified earlier this year under IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators for Pharmaceutical handling. Polmans, however, said he still believes the community can do better, even in the pharma sector. On Dec. 11 Brussels Airport is organizing an event with pharma shippers to introduce its new passive cool dolly for use on the airport’s apron.