Frankfurt processed the most airfreight out of all
airports in Europe. In 2020, the German airport handled over 1.8 million metric tons of cargo, which put it slightly ahead of Paris hub Charles de Gaulle.
Air cargo may be transported via passenger aircraft, specifically designed cargo aircraft or combi aircraft.
Frankfurt Airport at a glance
In 2020, Frankfurt Airport further established itself as one of the
leading airports for airfreight. Already a hub for cargo and pharmaceuticals, the airport's importance in this area has only increased: Frankfurt Airport has a large temperature-controlled hangar and has been handling vaccines for years, further preparing itself for the transport of millions of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, one of the Pfizer/BioNTech manufacturing plants is in Marburg, roughly 100 kilometers north of the airport.
Global air freight and the pandemic
While both
air travel and
cargo suffered from the impact of the pandemic, the overall
airfreight volume decrease experienced in 2020 was not as sharp as the decrease in passenger traffic, and the
worldwide revenue of cargo airlines surged. Not only that, but airfreight was also fundamental in tackling the pandemic, as it attended to the
demand increase for pharmaceutical products and personal protective equipment. As the need for face masks and vaccines continues into 2021, air cargo also continues to be a cornerstone of mitigating the pandemic.