Liege Airport confirms its leading role in European air freight. In the first three months of 2025, the airport handled 296,188 tons of cargo, up 5.6% on the same period in 2024 (280,478 tons). In terms of movements, 6,772 cargo flights were operated, up 6.2% on the first quarter of 2024.

March 2025 also illustrates this dynamic perfectly:
•
2,389 cargo movements, versus 2,231 in March 2024 (+7%)
•
111,160 tons transported, compared with 104,631 tons in March 2024 (+6.2%)

Growth ahead of the global trend
According to preliminary data published by WorldACD Market Data1, the global air freight market grew by +3% in tonnage in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024. Liege Airport’s growth is therefore almost double that of the global market, in an international context marked by uncertainty: slowdown in world trade, rising US customs duties, and the end of de minimis duty-free treatment in the United States for covered goods from China and Hong Kong as of May 2, 2025.

About Liege Airport:

Liege Airport, 5th cargo airport in Europe and 1st in Belgium, is the only European airport to favor full cargo
(#freightersfirst). It specializes in the transport of perishable goods, pharmaceutical products, medical
equipment, express parcels, e-commerce, medical and humanitarian equipment and live animals.

Press:
Christian Delcourt, Communication manager: +32 4 96 53 06 15 – [email protected]
Valérie Hauglustaine, Press Officer: + 32 4 234 85 75 – [email protected]
Caroline Hussin, Communication Officer: + 32 498268890 – [email protected]
www.liegeairport.com

Growth ahead of the global trend

According to preliminary data published by WorldACD Market Data1, the global air freight market grew by +3% in tonnage in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024. Liege Airport’s growth is therefore almost double that of the global market, in an international context marked by uncertainty: slowdown in world trade, rising US customs duties, and the end of de minimis duty-free treatment in the United States for covered goods from China and Hong Kong as of May 2, 2025.

US customs measures: Vigilance but operational stability

The figures for air freight between Liege Airport and the United States and vice versa for 2024 were 12% for imports and 16% for exports. This represents just over 160,000 tons in and out. Liege Airport-North America exports rose by 42% in Q1 2025, with some of the growth coming from Asia/Turkey-US transit volumes. We can assume that some companies wanted to anticipate US decisions to increase customs duties. Imports from the US fell by 12% due to the sluggishness of the US economy, demand from the EU and fewer import flights.

The airport remains attentive to developments in the regulatory environment, in particular the potential impact of US customs measures on international trade flows and countermeasures adopted by its trading partners. At this stage, our partners are not reporting any operational changes, and there have been no changes to flight plans. Uncertainties are not conducive to international trade, and a slowdown in air freight cannot be ruled out.