Exports of some of Scotland`s best known food and drink products have helped push cargo volumes at Glasgow Airport…
Exports of some of Scotland`s best known food and drink products have helped push cargo volumes at Glasgow Airport to a five year high.
Latest figures from airport operator BAA Scotland show Glasgow Airport handled 9,028 tonnes of cargo in the year to August, a rise of 31% on the previous year.
Exports of traditional Scottish fare such as smoked salmon, grouse and whisky helped drive the huge growth.
The cargo boost comes just weeks after Glasgow Airport unveiled ambitious plans to expand its cargo business and establish a `centre of excellence` for aircraft repair and maintenance.
The plans form part of Glasgow Airport`s Master Plan which looks at how the airport will grow over the next 25 years, and the impact it will have on tourism, employment and the economy.
The planning blueprint suggests Glasgow will become an increasingly important freight hub as it expands.
Cargo volumes at Glasgow Airport have risen sharply since dipping after 9/11. Cargo levels are now at their highest since 2000 and the past year has seen continued expansion, fuelled by the success of international carriers such as Emirates, US Airways and Zoom.
The arrival of the Dubai based carrier has been key to the airport`s success in attracting new cargo business. The wide-bodied A330 used by Emirates on its daily service to Dubai can carry up to 15 tonnes of cargo.
Shipments have included machinery parts, oil well equipment, electronic and IT parts along with traditional Scottish fare such as whisky, grouse and smoked salmon, lobsters and oysters. From next month, Emirates will operate a Boeing 777-300ER on the route with a cargo capacity of 17 tonnes.
With international air services expected to grow significantly, Glasgow`s cargo business is forecast to more than double by 2030.
The airport`s outline Master Plan also sets out plans to make Glasgow Airport a centre of excellence for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
Approximately 17.5 hectares of land have been allocated to the east of the existing airport boundary for maintenance related expansion, with a further 17.5 hectares allocated for a large cargo base. Existing cargo facilities will be relocated to the new site to allow for the easterly expansion of the terminal and the provision of a new pier and associated aircraft stands.
A detailed cargo and MRO (maintenance / repair / overhaul) study will be carried out by Glasgow Airport and Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire this year to pinpoint specific opportunities for Glasgow Airport to develop its cargo business. The study will also identify new opportunities for maintenance facilities.
Derek Hendry, head of development at Glasgow Airport, said: The rapid growth of our cargo business illustrates the importance of the airport to the import and export market in Scotland and to the business community generally. As the airport grows, so too will its positive impact on the Scottish economy.
We have been delighted with the high level of demand we have received with many shippers taking advantage of our direct service to Dubai and beyond, said Phil Rawlings, Emirates` Cargo Manager UK & Ireland. We carried over 5000 tonnes of cargo in our first year of operation and the introduction of the larger Boeing 777-300ER from 1 October, which carries 13 per cent more cargo, will enable us to meet this ever-growing demand from our freight-forwarding partners.
Glasgow Airport currently supports more than 15,700 jobs across Scotland, with more than 5,000 directly employed at the airport. The airport`s contribution to the Scottish economy measures
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