Royal Schiphol Group finalised a landmark €4.2 million deal on 8 June to purchase a 40 percent stake in Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), becoming the second shareholder in the airport alongside the province of Limburg.

The joining of forces will see both hubs share market intelligence and freight data as the teams develop innovations in cargo transport and handling, with Maastricht offering an ideal testing ground for key priorities such as sustainable aviation.

In addition to collaborating on product development, the Dutch airports will also share resources in the areas of strategy, real-estate, commerce, and maintenance.

“Maastricht Aachen Airport is the second largest cargo airport in the Netherlands and makes a significant economic contribution to the country,” said Joost van Doesburg, Head of Cargo with Schiphol Airport (Schiphol).

“Both Schiphol and MST recognize the importance of cargo, valuable freighter slots and good connectivity with the rest of the world. This collaboration will add value for our cargo partners at both airports, as we strive towards innovation, efficiency and sustainability.”

The signing of the deal follows Maastricht Aachen Airport’s recently announced plan to grow its freighter capacity by extending the operational length of its upgraded runway to 2,750 meters by 2025.