Frankfurt CargoHub, Europe's central air cargo hub, is pursuing a forward-looking strategy based on innovation and partnership. With this in mind, a delegation of Fraport employees and representatives of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt embarked on a roadshow to China to discuss key air cargo issues and present developments at the CargoHub to local partners. The successful format will be continued in 2025 with a roadshow in India

The latest figures from IATA on global air cargo trends make it clear: the industry continues to thrive. In September 2020, global air cargo demand increased by 9.4 percent year-on-year. International traffic even increased by 10.5 percent. For months, the industry has been recording double-digit growth rates, particularly on the trade routes between Asia and Europe. Here, IATA reports traffic increase of around 12% compared to the previous year, marking 19 consecutive months of growth.¹  A key driver of this boom is the growing e-commerce demand in Europe, which is leading to an increasing number of B2C air cargo shipments from China. In order to reliably meet this demand and to be able to manage the international flow of goods even with future growth, a high-performance infrastructure is needed at the starting and end points of the supply chain.

This is exactly what the Frankfurt CargoHub offers. Located in the heart of Europe, it is the central hub for the flow of goods between the continent and China. To ensure that it remains so, the airport operator Fraport AG is continuously developing the site together with partners from the local cargo community. The focus is always on close cooperation, true to the motto: Creating the Future of Cargo. Together.

Focus on community and cooperation

With this conviction, a delegation from the Frankfurt CargoHub set out for China on November 24. In addition to Fraport employees, numerous company representatives from the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt participated as well to jointly present the advantages of the site and the future-oriented strategy: the CargoHub master plan. First destination of the trip: Shanghai. The biggest city in China marked the start of a multi-day roadshow by the Frankfurt delegation through the Middle Kingdom. “At the Frankfurt CargoHub, we are shaping the future of air cargo together with strong partners from China and Europe,” said Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Member of the Executive Board of Fraport AG, responsible for Aviation and Infrastructure, at the start of the trip in Shanghai. “Together, we are setting standards for the reliable and transparent handling of global flows of goods and building a bridge for trade between Europe and China.” Lv Yaodong, Vice President of the Shanghai Airport Authority, agreed with him and emphasized the importance of European-Chinese air cargo transport chains in a globalized world in his welcoming address to the visitors from Germany.

The intensive exchange in Shanghai, with presentations and podium discussions on the cargo business in Frankfurt and China, provided important impetus for cross-border cooperation. The day in Shanghai, which concluded with a networking reception, marked a successful start to the roadshow, underlining the strategic importance of close cooperation between the various partners from China and Europe.

Innovation and location development as growth drivers

Two days later, the delegation visited Chengdu, an up-and-coming commercial center in the province of Sichuan in the southwest of the country and the headquarters of Sichuan Airlines Logistics. The company has been connecting the city with Frankfurt four times a week since October 2024 and explained its processes for exporting cargo from China as part of the roadshow. “We are pleased that Sichuan Airlines Cargo is expanding its cargo capacities between China and Europe and has chosen Frankfurt Airport for this purpose,” said Roland Weil, Vice President Sales Cargo at Fraport AG. The advantages of Frankfurt are obvious: the world's best hub connectivity, an excellent network of air, rail and road connections, state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities and a full-service portfolio with efficient airside and landside processes were also the subject of numerous keynotes and panel discussions in Chengdu.

In addition, the delegation presented the central initiatives of the CargoHub master plan to the Chinese partners, with which Fraport is equipping the Frankfurt air cargo location for the future. “Fraport expects cargo volumes in Frankfurt to exceed three million flown metric tons in 2040, an increase of around 50 percent on the previous peak in 2021. We are reacting to the increasing complexity and demands of the industry and are investing heavily in the cargo business,” said Dr. Prümm. “Our focus is on digitization and boosting the efficiency of our processes, as well as enhancements to our cargo infrastructure.” The master plan includes projects such as expanding the digital cargo community system, developing a charging infrastructure for electric trucks, and introducing a paperless, fully digitalized pick-up process. In addition, existing spaces at the site will be optimized and new areas developed to meet the increasing cargo volume.

Close cooperation with the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt plays a crucial role in this. “In joint working groups, we develop innovative solutions for the location in order to meet the requirements of global trade and create space for growth,” says Patrik Tschirch, Chairman of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt.

Flexibility and efficiency for e-commerce

The roadshow concluded with a stop in Shenzhen, where the guests discussed topics including the booming e-commerce industry and its growing importance for air cargo traffic between China and Europe. The Frankfurt CargoHub is already considered a central hub for e-commerce goods. The large number of small-scale shipments poses new challenges for cargo operations. Fraport is meeting these challenges with a standardized e-commerce process. The process was developed in close coordination with the German customs authorities and partner companies and guarantees fast delivery times, digital traceability, and customs-compliant processing.

Companies such as the e-commerce processor ViaEurope benefit from these innovative solutions, which enable them to efficiently manage their flow of goods. “We have decided on Frankfurt as the location for our fourth eHub in Europe because not only is the infrastructure convincing here, but innovative digital solutions are also offered that enable fast and smooth processing. One such solution is Fraport's unique e-commerce process, which enables the import of e-commerce shipments in accordance with EU law,” explained Stephan Asbreuk, Chief Growth Officer of ViaEurope, at the panel discussion in Shenzhen.

Outlook

The three days in China vividly demonstrated the importance of the Frankfurt CargoHub as a central hub for the flow of goods between Asia and Europe. At the same time, it became clear how closely the strategic development of the site is linked to the requirements of Asian-European trade. A total of around 200 participants exchanged ideas intensively over the three days, were able to learn from and with each other, and further expand their international relationships. “The roadshow was a complete success! It provided a platform for all participants to create new synergies and jointly shape air cargo between China and Europe,” summarized Kristine Heinisch, Team Leader Cargo Development at Fraport AG.

Fraport plans to continue this successful format in 2025. A roadshow in India is already planned for the second quarter of next year to strengthen partnerships and develop new growth markets there. With a clear vision and the commitment of the cargo community, the Frankfurt CargoHub will remain a key player in global trade – and set standards for the future of air cargo.

¹  https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2024-releases/2024-10-31-01/