Liege Airport continues its growth trajectory in the first half of 2026 with a growth of more than 11% in air cargo tonnages and strengthens its position as a reference air cargo hub in Europe.
Over the first six months of the year, the number of cargo aircraft movements increased by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2025 (14,354 versus 13,892). At the same time, the volumes transported recorded a much higher growth, with an 11.3% increase in tonnages handled (697,816 tons compared to 626,690 tons).
However, the rate of growth in the tonnages handled slowed in the 2nd quarter (+7.5%) compared to the 1st quarter (+15.6%).
This half-year change reflects a continuous improvement in the productivity of operations and confirms the airport’s ability to support the growth of international trade while optimising the use of transport capacity.
Exports up
The development of exports is one of the highlights of the first half of the year. Volumes exported via Liege Airport increased by 19% compared to last year (compared to a 6% growth in imports), reflecting the dynamism of European companies that use the airport as a logistics platform to global markets. The increase in exports was concentrated in Asia (+17%) and North America (+51%). The growth differential was particularly exacerbated in the 2nd half of 2026, with growth of 18% for exports and less than 1% for imports compared to 2025.
“These results demonstrate the solidity of Liege Airport’s business model and the trust placed in us by airlines, logistics operators and shippers. The increase in tonnage, which is much higher than that of movements, illustrates the efficiency gains made by the entire airport ecosystem. The strong growth in exports is also a very positive signal for Liege Airport. In a turbulent international context marked by the reconfiguration of supply chains and the continued growth of e-commerce, Liege Airport confirms its strategic role at the heart of European and global trade. The platform benefits from a unique combination of high-performance infrastructure, 24-hour operational availability and a particularly competitive logistics environment,” explains Frédéric Brun, VP Sales & Marketing Liege Airport.
These results support the airport’s development ambitions and strengthen its contribution to value creation, employment and the economic attractiveness of Wallonia.
The new European e-commerce legislation has been in place since 1 July 2026. As has been seen in other countries following the introduction of similar measures, it is expected to have a negative impact on air cargo volumes in the short term. This new legislation and similar changes to come could lead to a change in supply chains, with a modal shift from air to sea transport and the multiplication of distribution and fulfilment centres on European soil. Liege Airport is following this development closely, and it is far too early at this stage to draw conclusions.
