German army transports via Leipzig Airport
The German army is transporting its equipment back to Germany from its international mission in Afghanistan via Leipzig/Halle Airport.
The process started on Tuesday 18 May with two helicopters, which arrived on board an Antonov 124 cargo plane.
The freight aircraft are being unloaded by PortGround, a subsidiary of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, which specialises in handling aircraft and cargo.
“Handling outsized cargo is one of our core skill areas. Whether this involves helicopters, machine parts, vehicles or underground train vehicles, all the customers at the airport benefit from our many years of experience,” says Alexander König, Managing Director of PortGround GmbH.
The transport aircraft is part of the fleet belonging to the Ukrainian airline, Antonov Airlines. Two Antonov 124-100 planes have already been permanently stationed at Leipzig/Halle as part of the SALIS project (Strategic Airlift International Solution) since March 2006.
Hub for express and e-commerce shipments, freight charter services and medical aid
LEJ is one of the cargo airports in the world that is registering most dynamic growth and it set a new record in 2020 by handling more than 1.38 million tonnes of freight.
The volume of cargo increased by more than 22 percent to approx. 495,315 tonnes during the first four months of this year.
The airport safeguards important logistics and supply chains for industry and the general population as the fourth-largest air freight hub in Europe.
The airport is DHL’s largest hub anywhere in the world as well as being the first regional air freight centre for Amazon Air in Europe. This makes the airport one of the most significant hubs for express and e-commerce shipments.
LEJ is also serving as a transhipment point for medical aid and protective equipment in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. Freight charter flights, which have been transporting millions of Covid-19 tests, have been regularly handled during the last few weeks, for example, in addition to regular traffic.
Overall, about 60 cargo airlines fly to the airport and serve a network of routes that covers more than 200 destinations around the globe.
More than 10,800 people are currently employed at Leipzig/Halle Airport or at local companies and public authorities based there. This figure includes about 8,200 alone who work in the freight handling, cargo airline.
