From January to September, 216,360 tons of cargo were handled at Vienna Airport, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year.

Vienna Airport said it recorded growth in both flown and trucked airfreight.

In the first nine months of the year, belly cargo on passenger aircraft increased by 45% to 90,692 tons compared to the same period last year.

"The current and recent strong market demand for airfreight is leading to an increase in tonnage at Vienna Airport," the gateway said.

In the third quarter, from July to September, cargo volume rose to 75,242 tons, an increase of more than 25% over the previous year.

A further significant increase was recorded in September.

Vienna Airport noted that in September, 18,094 tons of airfreight were handled at the airport, an increase of 25% over the same period last year.

The hub noted that this growth is also being driven by additional flights and the resulting increase in capacity.

Qatar Airways Cargo, for example, has been operating a weekly service between Vienna and its hub in Doha since September. The Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines also returned to Vienna at the end of May.

"Vienna Airport continues to expand its position as a central cargo hub: With our modern infrastructure and high service quality, we are creating optimal conditions for fast and efficient cargo handling. The increasing number of airlines that have chosen us as a reliable cargo location, and in particular the 45% growth in belly freight, confirm our importance as a key logistics hub between Europe and Asia," said Julian Jäger, joint CEO and COO of Vienna airport.

Michael Zach, senior vice president of  Ground Handling & Cargo Operations of Vienna Airport, noted that the gateway recorded growth in September for both freight-only flights and belly freight on passenger aircraft as well as trucking.

"The expansion of connectivity through new flight connections and additional cargo flights demonstrates the importance of the airport as a strategic hub in the region."

"The strong growth shows that we can respond to the needs of international logistics in a dynamic market environment and act as a reliable partner for cargo customers," Zach added.