The inaugural flight of the new 747-400F of the air freight company Cargo B recently landed in Liège, marking the official "relocation" of its hub to Bierset.

The volume of freight announced represents approximately 60,000 tonnes, meaning that the new arrival will handle more than 10% of the freight traffic passing through Liège Airport each year.

Rob Kuijpers, President of Cargo B, gave the following reasons for the move: operational flexibility, speed of customs formalities and phytosanitary controls together with specialist handling services, but also the possibility of conducting operations on a continuous basis, making it possible to ensure that its planes are profitable, for which the leasing costs are more than €100 million a month. The economic benefits involved are also considerable.

The company has suggested that 30 new direct jobs and 75 indirect ones will be created.


Fabian Lacasse - L'ECHO - 13/05/2009