Last year was a successful one for Liege Airport. Over 650,000 tons of goods transited through the airport, an increase of 10 percent over 2014. Investments of $17.5 million will support growth in 2016.

In 2015, Liege Airport consolidated its position as the number one cargo airport in Belgium, handling 649,829 tons of cargo against 590,579 tons in 2014, representing an increase of 10 percent.

“The new companies—Qatar Airways and ANA Aviation—have boosted our business,” said Luc Partoune, the airport’s managing director.

Liege Airport received major international recognition in 2015 when it received the award for best cargo airport in Europe in October in Singapore. And Ethiopian Airlines, the airport’s second largest customer, won the title of the best cargo airline in the world for 2015. Liege Airport is also successfully continuing its strategy of diversification through its subsidiary Liege Airport Business Park. A new ultra-modern office building has been approved in North zone and will be fully occupied in early February.

There are encouraging prospects for 2016 as regards passenger traffic with connections between China and Liège doubling, from three to six flights a week. The investment program for 2016 amounts to $11 million, with plans including the construction of a new business aviation area, creation of aircraft stands in the north, and continuation of energy-saving investments.

Investment in the Liege Airport Business Park will grow to $6.5 million with a new freight hall in the northern zone and a storage facility. The building serving as a reception center for horses will be operational early June and will be used to transport horses to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer.