AIR CARGO PROSPECTS IN BOLOGNA BETWEEN INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

11/07/2024 Bologna Marconi Airport is the third largest airport in Italy in terms of volumes of freight, with approximately 51,000 tons of merchandise handled in 2023, accounting for 5% of the market. Recent years have seen substantial growth in freight by couriers and by “general cargo”, passenger flights that use aircraft holds for cargo, especially to the Emirates and the Far East. In addition, a leading international courier has invested heavily in Bologna, establishing an important gateway within the airport, and prominent logistics and courier operators have established a presence in areas inside and outside the airport grounds, close to the airport itself.

The Bologna Airport company also invested in the sector, renovating the Cargo Terminal of its subsidiary FFM, for a total of Euro 3.5 million. The works, which were completed in the spring of this year, mainly involved:
 The unification of the customs warehouse (centralisation of goods and organisation of flows);
 The construction of a new canopy adjacent to the existing one in the airside apron (with an increase in the goods storage area in the apron); 
 The maximisation of export and import goods storage areas inside the building, with the construction of cold rooms and freezers covering approximately 100 square metres;
 The switch to the mezzanine floor and the modernisation of all secondary functions (archive, toilets, changing rooms, break room, meeting room).

A national debate on the digitalisation of procedures and documentation and on the contribution of technological innovation to the evolution of the logistics production chain, also in light of the ongoing environmental and geopolitical transition, is incorporated in this rapidly developing framework.
This was discussed at a conference held today in Bologna, with the participation of the main key players in the cargo world in Italy and the final speech by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Galeazzo Bignami.
In particular, sector operators are asking for strategic direction and overall planning for the main cargo airports, to allow the country to boost its efficiency and competitiveness as a system, compared to other European airports, overcoming the existing gap.
“With regard to Marconi - the Chairman of AdB Enrico Postacchini emphasised - note should be taken of the strategic importance of the cargo development of Bologna in support of the economic expansion of leading companies in the reference area, naturally suited to exports, primarily in the food, tobacco, machinery and automotive sectors. The excellent performance of continuous growth of companies in this region in recent years has also been determined by the regional presence of a robust and efficient airport and the development of the main logistics players, shippers and couriers”.
“Bologna Airport - said the Chief Executive Officer of AdB Nazareno Ventola - is at the heart of an important road and railway hub between Northern and Central Italy, which must be strengthened with a view to an intermodal system, also taking into due consideration the possible development of strategic synergies with the neighbouring Interporto di Bologna, which is investing heavily in rail development for goods transport. For an area like Emilia-Romagna - he added - it is necessary to make adequate plans for the development of road and intermodal infrastructures, which further favour the natural and essential logistics expansion to support an economy of primary importance, taking into consideration the environmental sustainability of this development”.
“With nine daily flights at Bologna Airport, AICAI's member air couriers serve over 10 thousand companies in the Bologna area and manage over 8 million shipments per year, providing fundamental support to the competitiveness of companies in Emilia-Romagna. Night flights are essential to ensure express and time-sensitive services, with high added value, which guarantee companies' competitiveness and growth. For this reason, we stress the importance of the continuity of the service offered by the associated couriers, within a framework of stable rules that allow them to continue with their investments. The AICAI members are also at the forefront of the ecological transition, and their aircraft comply with the highest international standards” added Marco Carenini, Chairman of AICAI - Italian Air Courier Association.
“Today, the growth of the cargo sector depends on the digitalisation of infrastructures and processes - stated Alessandro Albertini, Chairman of ANAMA, National Association of Air Cargo Agents. This is why we hope that the Bologna hub - the third largest national cargo airport - will also be able to evaluate the adoption of airport community systems, digital platforms that allow data sharing and collaboration between operators in the production chain. This is a system with great potential, which could be even more efficient under the national direction of MIT”.
All the main key players of the Italian cargo world took part in the event, chaired by the journalist Morena Pivetti. Speakers: Marco Cutaia, Emilia-Romagna and Marche Interregional Director of the Customs and Monopoly Agency, Giovanni Parascandolo, Provincial Commander of the Italian Tax Police of Bologna, Alessio Quaranta, General Manager of ENAC - Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Silvia Tagliaferri Cargo Manager of Emirates Sky Cargo, Antonio Di Martino Head of Sales and Handling Italy & Malta Lufthansa Cargo, Edvino Corradi Executive Director of IBAR - Italian Board Airline Representatives, Paolo Dalla Noce Head of Cargo SEA - Aeroporti di Milano and Ivan Bassato Chief Business Unit Aviation ADR - Aeroporti di Roma.