Brussels Airport has inaugurated Brucargo Central, an 83,500m² logistics hub that increases storage capacity by 30%.
The €70m (£61m) redevelopment of Brucargo Central, launched in 2022, saw replacement of eight legacy buildings with 34,000m² of new warehouse and office space.
The new site also includes an additional 10,000m² of temperature-controlled space, bringing total cold storage capacity in the Brussels Airport cargo area to 45,000m². This supports logistics needs from pharma, food services and e-commerce sectors.
The redevelopment of Brucargo Central has reduced paved areas by 20% to create more green spaces and a more pleasant working environment. It includes a new 500-space multi-storey car park with 21 additional spaces for lorries and is equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.
All buildings on the site have BREEAM-Excellent certification, which evidences the use of sustainable materials and innovative technologies. The project uses solar panels and electric heat pumps coupled with geothermal storage for heating and cooling, making the site fossil-fuel free.
“Accelerating the development of the cargo area at Brussels Airport is one of our strategic priorities,” stated Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.
He added: “Brucargo Central is a concrete illustration of our commitment to accelerating the sustainable transition of our cargo area and achieving our net zero carbon ambition by 2030.
Brussels Airport transported 733,000 tonnes of goods in 2024, representing average growth of 6% annually since 2019. Currently, more than 100 companies operate at the European logistics hub.
The three new buildings at Brucargo Central will house five logistics companies that already operate at the airport: Nippon Express has with a 10,000m² air freight facility; DSV Air & Sea NV with a 12,600m² warehouse focused on pharmaceuticals; Hazgo, with a 2,000m² space; Deny Cargo, with a 2,500m² warehouse that includes refrigerated storage options; and EV Cargo.
Since 2020, Brussels Airport invested in its cargo site with construction of specialist animal care and inspection centre, the €100m development of Brucargo West and the construction of a building for Herfurth Logistics.
