Major TNT investment in Liege air hub
TNT has announced that it is to invest €36m in extending its European air hub in Liege, Belgium. In total the company plans to invest €94m over the next six years, creating some 245 additional jobs by 2010.
The investment will take the form of three separate phases. The first will see hub space double from 28,000 sqm to 56,000 sqm as well as an improvement in sortation systems. The second and third phases will involve the installation of new sortation equipment and increased container throughput.
Since it arrived in 1997, TNT’s commitment to Liege has already led to considerable expansion and the airport has developed into a major European hub for a range of air cargo carriers. TNT is the largest operator at Liege and of its 5000 employees in Belgium, 1250 are employed there. It receives 95 trucks per night as well as 39 aircraft flying to 65 European airports. The facility handles 700 to 720 tons per night, a significant increase on the 670 tonnes per night in 2003. It also moves 20% more aircraft containers than just 18 months ago.
It has also been reported that DHL is considering the relocation of its European air hub from Brussels to Liege if it is not able to agree growth plans with the local authorities. If this were to happen Liege would become one of the top three cargo airports in Europe, although there would need to be significant investment, including a new runway, before such a move could be made.
