Another heavy lift charter was successfully executed at D'sseldorf recently. The cargo, a single 8.5 ton machinery component was flown to Sao Louis in Brazil. The shipment, 5.18m x5.18m x .68m(see photo) was flown on board an AN 24 aircraft originating from New York's Newark airport. This charter is the latest in a series of eight AN 124 and 52 A300F charters carried out over the lat 15 months at D'sseldorf. The successful execution of these flights demonstrates the efficiency of and the airport, winner of the Cargo airport of the year award 2009 and the handling company DUS Cargo Logistics.

Gerton Hulsman, managing Director of DUS Cargo Logistics, the biggest cargo handler at the airport, states. ' Handling large freighters is a skill which our team have perfected over the years. The ability to work quickly and efficiently, often at unsociable hours, is a vital element in turning the shipment around on time.

'This is Germany's third largest airport serving 180 destinations worldwide, with over 18 million passengers and a potential capacity of 300,000 tons of cargo per annum and. Being in the middle of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany's leading industrial and commercial region, accounting for around 22% of Germany's GDP, the airport and logistics network distribute goods throughout the whole of Northern Germany, the BeneLux and Europe. Traditional manufacturing has been matched by modern hi-tech industries. The airport is a key factor in this success story.

'Cargo tonnage at D'sseldorf is undergoing steady growth this year with an increase from Jan to June of 4.2% and May to July of 11.4% plus we have a very positive forecast for the coming months. The current annual throughout of DUS Cargo Logistics is around 100,000 tons but the existing warehouse of 150,000 ton annual capacity can be doubled for future expansion. We see the steady traffic in freighters continuing as Germany's Economy climbs out of recession.'