Brussels Airport experienced a notable surge in its total air cargo volume during August 2026, processing 70,764 tons of freight. This figure represents a 22% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. The growth was particularly strong in the full freighter segment and in cargo carried within the belly holds of passenger aircraft.
This rise in volume is particularly significant because it occurred concurrently with a 4.6% decrease in the number of dedicated cargo flights operating at the airport. This suggests that carriers are optimizing their operations, achieving higher load factors per flight, or shifting more cargo to passenger aircraft.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend at Brussels Airport indicates potentially more efficient air cargo operations and better utilization of existing capacity. While fewer flights might suggest reduced frequency, the increased tonnage per flight implies that available space is being maximized. This could lead to more stable capacity offerings per flight, though forwarders should monitor specific lane performance to understand if this efficiency translates into consistent booking options or if it reflects consolidation of cargo onto fewer services. The growth in belly cargo also highlights the increasing importance of passenger flights for air freight, offering additional capacity options for shippers.
