Germany's largest airports, Frankfurt and Munich, broke cargo records in January and expect significant growth in 2011.
Frankfurt airport boosted cargo traffic 7.7 percent in January from a year ago to an all time high for the month as freight outpaced passenger growth at Europe's largest air cargo hub.
The airport handled 169,808 metric tons of freight last month, overtaking the previous record for a January set in 2008.
Passenger traffic increased 5.7 percent to 3.87 million, Fraport AG, the airport operator said.
"Not only have we left the turbulent economic crisis behind us, we are now heading into a new dimension of growth," said executive board chairman Stefan Schulte.
"We are expecting noticeable growth in all traffic segments this year and at least in the medium term until 2015," Schulte said.
Cargo traffic at Fraport's five majority-owned airports -- Frankfurt, Antalya, Turkey, Lima, Peru and Burgas and Varna in Bulgaria -- increased 7.3 percent year-on-year in January to 194,216 metric tons.
Munich airport reported its cargo traffic jumped 27.2 percent in 2010 from the previous year to a record 275,000 metric tons.
"After the global financial and economic crisis, we have begun posting substantial traffic increases much sooner than we expected," said Munich CEO Michael Kerkloh.
The airport will post "significant gains" in cargo figures in 2011, Kerkloh said.
The Journal of Commerce Online
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