Budapest Airport’s New Logistics Base Takes Step Closer to Completion
The larger building section of Budapest Airport’s logistics base called the BUD Cargo City has reached its final structural form. To mark the occasion, Merkbau, the contractor of the building section and Budapest Airport held a joint topping out ceremony, where Budapest Airport’s chief property and cargo officer spoke about the role of the Hungarian capital in air cargo freight.
Barely more than nine months after the start of construction, the larger warehouse building at Budapest Airport’s new logistics base, to be used for the handling of air cargo, has been structurally completed. From now on, only interior works will be going on in the so-called handling building, and the complex, called BUD Cargo City, is due to be handed over at the end of the year.
In connection with the construction of the logistics base, René Droese, Budapest Airport’s chief property and cargo officer, spoke during the topping out ceremony about topical issues affecting the industry, and thus, air cargo traffic in Budapest as well. He stated: “During the air cargo conferences held this year, we discussed the efficiency of cargo processes and opportunities for digitization, amongst other things. The current international trade conflicts undoubtedly pose challenges for the representatives of the industry, but we are confident, as the volume of air cargo handled by Budapest Airport is characterized by stability in 2019. We believe that with all efforts and steps to create an ideal home for air cargo at BUD, we will attract much more cargo from our catchment zone in the future than today.”
The BUD Cargo City will also contribute greatly to the cargo volume development plan of the airport, as the facility provides an opportunity for efficient cooperation between cargo industry players. The positive feedback from the cargo players and the pre-leasing ratio of the Cargo City demonstrates a clear demand for such high-quality facilities, with easy access between landside and airside. The logistics base being constructed on the Vecsés side of the airport will consist of a 21 600 square meter warehouse hall and office section, another 11 200 square meter facility close by, intended for forwarders and a 32 000 square meter concrete apron. This apron will provide additional new parking positions for the simultaneous handling of two Boeing B-747-8F type aircraft, enhancing cargo apron capacities. These “Jumbos” are able to transport up to 130 tons of cargo.
The entire building complex is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and is constructed from a budget totaling 50 million EUR, financed by Budapest Airport entirely from its own resources.
