Vincent Gernay, Communication Advisor Liege Airport

Autumn 2008, Bierset welcomes Ethiopian Airlines and El Al Cargo

Two major airlines coming in to land, TNT's European centre doubles its initial investment, 100 new jobs on top of 9,000 direct or indirect ones… Bierset is taking off!

El Al is counting on Liege

Fuel prices are climbing, taxes are rising, El Al is regrouping its European operations at Liege Airport. What impact will it have on the region? 100 new jobs. What swayed El Al? "Without doubt our costs, our efficiency, our expertise in cargo... and human relations did the rest", answers Vincent Gernay, Liege Airport's spokesperson.

Ethiopian Airlines has an excellent reputation. Liege must have one too.
"Their coming to Liege shows confidence in our efficiency and proven ability to get the job done", analyses Gernay. For them, Liege is a good European base and TNT's presence facilitates dispatches throughout Europe, by road, by air and, within the very near future, by rail.

The reasons behind the choice
Liege is exceptionally well situated, a genuine hub for all the main Destinations: London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan... What’s more, the proximity of its sites, right next to the runways, facilitates logistic development linked to cargo activity. There is ongoing development on the airport's Northern side. What’s the aim of this ‘Top 8’ European airport for 2012? To be in the ‘Top 5’ with its 1,000,000 tons of cargo.

"Every extra minute a plane spends on the ground costs. The same is true for pallets." 

Unlike Brussels the city isn't too close
The Walloon region's environmental policy is a model of its kind: all aircraft use the same flight path. What are the advantages? Less noise for less people. Neighbouring residents can be financially compensated. With the umbrella technique, planes above the capital fly over everyone, making paid compensation impossible. Gernay: "With their model Brussels has no solution for night flights. Choices will have to be made in the future in favour of airports which have a complete environmental policy."

Bierset is taking the high-speed train 
Liege Airport is embarking on multi-modal solutions and is among the active partners involved in the project to set up a TGV freight station. "We no longer consider ourselves solely as the airport's management company, we strive to work with mixed solutions, inspired by new environmental criteria", explains Gernay who is also the general coordinator for CAREX (TGV Cargo).

"You said volatile? I say sustainable!"

The Société Wallonne des Aéroports, created in 2000, is a guarantee of continuity for the site's activities. It undertakes investment decided on by the Region and manages environmental policy. TNT has a long-term vision. Icelandair only requires handling, but they have been here for 12 years... All our investments are proof of consolidation in a developing sector. "It is both structural and geographical: our road network is a key asset, just as the upcoming TGV network will be", Gernay concludes.

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