Brussels International Airport Company hits back

Brussels International Airport Company (BIAC) has refuted claims from environmental and residents’ groups that it has overstated the benefits of DHL’s planned expansion.

DHL expects its European hub to be handling 781,000 tonnes by 2012, compared with 312,000 tonnes today. There would be 4,200 extra staff at an expanded hub, compared with a loss of 3,900 jobs if Brussels was only a sub-hub, BIAC has claimed.

“DHL relocation would significantly affect the airline companies as they carry almost 30% of the parcels forwarded by DHL, ” BIAC said.

Extrapolated figures on DHL’s likely future contribution to the Belgian economy and the growth in airport-related economic activity and indirect employment have angered interest groups, but BIAC has accused them of slander.

Cargo flows through Brussels increased 17% to 604,000 tonnes last year, boosted by new services from Asian carriers.

Part-privatisation this year could give BIAC extra operating flexibility, according to head of cargo marketing Alain Bertrand. “There may be certain things we can do as a private company we cannot as a public company, ” he said.

“There is still room for expansion in the present infrastructure. This year we will start the major development plan, according to what we feel is needed for cargo over the next 10 years.”