newstodate.aero

Feb 07, 2024 (newstodate): Tallinn Airport is determined to grow its cargo business; in the plans for Tallinn Airport is a new cargo city adjacent to the airport.
   The project aims to establish a modern logistics center meeting international standards and promoting growth in the volume of goods handled at the airport, with construction work scheduled to commence in spring 2024 while the facility is planned for completion in summer 2025 already.
   But 2023 was again no year of jubilation as to cargo volumes through Estonia's Tallinn Airport that handled a total of 8,753 tonnes, down 21.2 percent, y-o-y.
   So is there a business case in cargo for Tallinn Airport?
  -Yes, says Sven Kukemelk, VP International Business at Omniva, an international post and logistics company based in Tallinn, Estonia, actively developing its position in global e-commerce logistics.
   -In my view, Tallinn is ideally located to serve cargo flows from China to the Baltic and Scandinavian markets, with Tallinn Airport being EU's closest airport to China.  
   -However, the key to success lies in the possibility of attracting a strong Chinese carrier to launch cargo routes to Tallinn. Today, only Chinese carriers can overfly Russian airspace and effectively create a sustainable cost base for cargo flows.  
   -Juneyao airlines operating between Shanghai and Helsinki has proved very successful in attracting belly cargo, and I think we are not that far from seeing all-cargo aircraft operating to Helsinki from China.
   -In my opinion, to get cargo volumes growing again Tallinn Airport needs to attract attention among Chinese cargo carriers to establish a base here.
  -There is currently no clear cargo airport in the Baltics and Scandinavia, leaving a fair opportunity for anyone to establish this position. With Finnair, Helsinki Airport has the advantage of a strong network player providing cargo capacity; however Tallinn should be able to capitalize on its lower cost base which is indeed very important in cargo world, says Mr Kukemelk.
   At its height, some 65 percent of all shipments handled at Tallinn Airport were driven by ex-China e-commerce, but this traffic was stalled by the closure of Russia's airspace.