newstodate.aero

Jun 23, 2022 (newstodate): In the Baltic region, Estonia's Tallinn Airport is dwarfed by Latvia's Riga Airport when measured in cargo volumes - but outperforming, measured in growth in 2022.
   In January-May, Riga Airport handled 9,495 tonnes of cargo, and Tallinn Airport 4,567 tonnes.
   But while RIX shrank by 6.8 percent, y-o-y, TLL was up 18.5 percent.
   -There are various reasons behind our growth; first, we are not dependent on only a single line of business or a niche, and secondly, we are not immediately affected by Russia's war on Ukraine and the ensuing disruption, and did not have Aeroflot operating for some two years, says Hasan Steinberg, Tallinn Airport Air Cargo Development Manager.
   -One effect from the disruption is, however, that up to half of cargo has shifted from road or sea to air transportation as supply chains have been stressed, benefiting integrators like DHL, FedEx and UPS that are all operating at Tallinn Airport, and the supply chains of which have remained intact. Much of the significant growth in this segment is thus actually organic growth on the part of the integrators, where DHL Global Forwarding is also an active partner in the region.
   -A significant part of the shipments handled at Tallinn Airport is now e-trade commodities that find a gateway here; almost all aircraft arriving or departing are nearly fully loaded with mail shipments including e-trade commodities, and this business is still picking up.
   -Another challenge to many operators and airports is lack of staff after the Covid-19 lockdowns. This has also affected Tallinn Airport to some degree, but has been largely overcome.
   -Overall, our growth in cargo thus relies on not just one, but several pillars, which makes us less sensitive to momentary changes in one segment. Add to this that our infrastructure is fully developed to cater to the needs of all types of aircraft, including wide-body freighters, says Mr Steinberg.