Hamburg airport, which has so far kept a low profile on the air freight scene, is hoping to replicate the success of its seaport, which has grown over the past few years into a major gateway for trade with Asia. The airport, 51 per cent owned by the City of Hamburg and the remaining by Hochtief, Germany’s major construction group, is now taking steps to build up its cargo network with Asia.
As Northern Europe’s leading seaport, Hamburg port has played a key role in Europe’s trade with Asia and the airport is eyeing the potential to expand air freight traffic. The airport said it was interested in building up connections with Asia, particularly with China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia. "We need to expand our connections to further regions of Asia."
The airport is currently in discussions with China’s Shanghai Airlines and Air China. Hamburg airport has often tried to play up its China connection through the presence of more than 400 Chinabased companies in the North German city. But it is not just the China connection that interests the airport planners, who are also at pains to point out the city’s traditional links with India, Japan,Malaysia and Thailand.
Imports from Asia through Hamburg comprise mainly of consumer products while exports to Asia comprise of hi-tech products, machinery and other hardware. Hamburg airport still lags behind other German airports in terms of cargo traffic – it is the fifth largest cargo airport in Germany after Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Munich and Hahn – handling only 80,000 tonnes in 2007, an eight per cent rise over 2006.
One setback for the airport recently was the suspension by Emirates Airline of its flights from Dubai to New York via Hamburg. The airline will end the flights at Hamburg and then return to its base in Dubai instead of flying on to New York.