Vienna Airport Guests at the Aircargo Club Germany

Michael Zach, Senior Vice President Ground Handling & Cargo Operations of Flughafen Wien AG, presented the development of the air freight location Vienna at the aircargo club deutschland (acd). The focus was on the record year 2024 and the strategic steps for further positioning as a powerful hub in Central Europe.

(Frankfurt/Vienna) With a freight volume of nearly 298,000 tons, Vienna Airport recorded a 22 percent increase in 2024 compared to the previous year – a clear signal of Vienna’s growing role in the European air freight market. “We are growing purposefully and with a plan – supported by close partnerships and clear investment decisions,” said Zach.

Drivers of this development include, among other things, strong connections to Asia, additional freight routes, and an increasing volume of e-commerce. The latter is proving to be a particularly dynamic factor, whose requirements can be efficiently met in Vienna. Vienna is optimally connected: 23 countries can be reached from the airport location within 1.5 days by truck – a decisive advantage for reliable and fast connections throughout Central Europe.

In the operational area, Vienna Airport also impresses with efficiency and stable processes: VIE Cargo Services offers short cut-off times for exports, quick processing for imports, and digitized workflows. All relevant departments – from security checks to customs to health authorities – operate 24/7. Waiting times or system bottlenecks, as can occur at other European hubs, are the exception in Vienna.

Pharma Handling Center Grows in Double Digits

The location also stands out with the Vienna Pharma Handling Center, which recorded double-digit growth in 2024. With a continuous cold chain, short distances, and high process quality, Vienna meets the increasing demands of the pharmaceutical industry in a special way.

The future is also well-prepared: Sustainability, infrastructure development, and digitization are at the center of planning. Investments in modern handling and logistics processes, e-mobility, and automated systems strengthen the location’s performance. “We are working on all critical issues – and see it as our task to further develop services purposefully,” explained Zach.

acd President Prof. Dr. Christopher W. Stoller explicitly welcomed Vienna’s positive development: “Vienna Airport impressively demonstrates how an air freight location can evolve through smart investments and a clear strategy. At the same time, it becomes clear: A coordinated air freight policy across Europe is essential to ensure fair and efficient competition.”

National Solo Efforts are Counterproductive

Stoller also emphasized that national solo efforts – for example, in the area of customs regulations – are counterproductive: “We need joint efforts in the interpretation and compliance with customs regulations. Only in this way can we avoid distortions of competition and outliers within Europe. Uniform rules create reliability – for companies and locations alike.” In the European comparison, Vienna positions itself as a flexible, well-connected location – with a clear focus on quality, service, and future security.

Photo: © Flughafen Wien