Strategic conceptual design for the Munich Airport Air Cargo Site

The main goal behind the total structural development of cargo locations at airports is to ensure that the customers and partners are supported, the offered cargo services and the cargo infrastructure at the airport and in the surrounding area are developed, demand is stimulated, and the opportunities of the air cargo site are marketed. Based on the new requirements of the users and increased utilization of the existing freight handling facilities, the goal of a project for the Munich Airport was threefold: to develop the planning basis for improving on a short term base the efficiency of additional handling capacities, to create the planning basis for the gradual permanent expansion of these capacities, and to elaborate long-term perspectives for the air cargo site.

Scenarios and perspectives for a possible structural development of the air cargo site were developed based on an analysis of the market requirements, developments in the market and the business environment, competing airports, and the customers and partners at the air cargo site. The scenarios and perspectives were developed in consideration of the following:  

  • Required capacities
  • Infrastructural connections
  • Logistic facilities and processes

Taking into account the fact that the cargo business at the airport, the air cargo market, and the other airport functions are closely connected to each other in many aspects; the analysis and the development of the conceptual design for the cargo site at the airport were worked on collectively.

Location concepts and a time schedule were created for the need-based development of the location in consideration of the growth forecast for the air cargo market and future market structures. The development of the location aims to demonstrate the requirements of cargo within the scope of a master plan for the entire airport.

high capacity utilization

short-term upgrading

long-term perspective

market analysis