K+N invests in facilities at BUD

Switzerland-based logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel is establishing its presence at Budapest Airport (BUD), investing in logistics facilities for high-value goods, such as pharmaceuticals, at the centrally located European hub.

This news comes as the airport’s administration gears up to commence construction of its new freight center, known as Cargo City – part of the airport’s cargo initiative that was defined in its 2020 development program.

BUD reported a record-high 13 percent increase in traffic to 127,145 tonnes in 2017. In anticipation of continued growth, the airport has said it plans to more than double its handling capacity to 250,000 tonnes per year.

The airport is becoming a common stop for cargo carriers, namely Cargolux, Turkish Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo, connecting North American hubs, such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Toronto, to Budapest.

“I look at forwarder companies as our closest strategic partners in developing our cargo route network,” said René Droese, director of property and cargo at BUD. “Jointly, we can bring the right cargo airlines with the right capacity and flight frequency to Budapest.”

BUD opened two major integrator facilities last summer, and said that Cargo City’s handover is planned for the summer of 2019.