Schiphol Airport wrapped up 2024 on a high note, with its total air cargo tonnage reaching 1.5 million tonnes in 2024, marking an 8.2% increase over 2023.

Electronics, machinery and spare parts, perishables, clothing, e-commerce goods, and pharmaceuticals are some of the largest categories by freight volume.

In a statement, Schiphol Airport — one of Europe's busiest air cargo hubs — said air cargo growth was driven by a surge in e-commerce and various global geo-political developments, and ocean shipping restrictions.

The full freighter-to-belly ratio stood at 57% to 43%, reflecting a shift towards a higher proportion of belly freight (up from 39% in 2023) — a trend that is predicted to continue in the coming years.

Schiphol noted that despite a slight decrease in full freighter flights, the higher volumes of cargo transported by aircraft resulted in a 1% average year-on-year increase in full freighter tonnage.

Belly freight saw a 19.8% increase, driven by a higher number of flights carrying belly cargo, as passenger flights continued their post-COVID recovery.

Meanwhile, it added that all regions experienced strong growth, except for Latin America, which saw a decline, partly due to the reallocation of routes to and from Asia driven by e-commerce demand.

In 2024, inbound tonnage grew by 7.8%, fueled by strong demand from regions including the Middle East (India), the Far East (China, Japan, Korea), Africa (Kenya, South Africa), and the U.S.

Outbound tonnage was also up, recording an 8.8% increase, primarily driven by demand from the U.S. Significant growth also stemmed from The Middle East, Africa, and Europe.