European Cargo Connects Europe with Global Destinations

European cargo plays a vital role in connecting Europe with global destinations, with a vast network of routes and transportation modes.

From the UK to the Mediterranean, European cargo ships travel to over 200 ports worldwide, facilitating the exchange of goods between continents.

Regular services connect major European cities like Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp to global hubs like Singapore, Shanghai, and Dubai.

These routes enable the transportation of a wide range of goods, from perishable food products to heavy machinery and vehicles.

If this caught your attention, see: High Value Cargo Transportation

The Airbus A340 has been repurposed as a cargo aircraft, with some models being converted to carry oversized cargo.

The A340's large cargo bay makes it an ideal candidate for this type of conversion.

In fact, the A340 can carry up to 65 tons of cargo, making it a popular choice for freight companies.

This is because the A340 has a maximum takeoff weight of over 290,000 kilograms, allowing it to carry heavy loads.

As a result, the A340 has been used to transport oversized cargo, such as large machinery and construction equipment.

The A340's versatility has also made it a popular choice for charter flights, where it can be used to transport a wide range of cargo.

European Cargo's charter flights played a crucial role in transporting personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.

The company's parent company, European Aviation Air Charter, responded to the UK government's urgent request for PPE transport from Malaysia in April 2020.

Initially, European Cargo operated freight services using Maleth-Aero of Malta, which flew former Virgin Atlantic A340-600 aircraft.

These aircraft were painted in commemorative liveries as a tribute to the British National Health Service.

European cargo operations are complex and multifaceted, involving a range of logistics and supply chain management strategies.

The European cargo market is highly competitive, with many companies vying for a share of the lucrative trade.

The average transit time for cargo from Asia to Europe is around 30-40 days, depending on the route and mode of transport.

Sea freight is the dominant mode of transport in European cargo operations, accounting for around 90% of total cargo volumes.

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is one of the busiest ports in Europe, handling over 460 million tons of cargo per year.

The use of intermodal transport, which combines different modes of transport such as sea and rail, is becoming increasingly popular in European cargo operations.

The European Union's multimodal transport policy aims to reduce the administrative burden on operators and improve the efficiency of the transport chain.

Explore further: European Sea Ports Organisation

European Cargo operates a fleet of aircraft that enable them to reach various destinations across the globe. The fleet consists of Airbus A340 airliners in both cargo and passenger configurations.

The airline operates flights to several scheduled destinations, including Vienna International Airport in Austria, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China, and Bournemouth Airport in the United Kingdom. Some of these destinations are seasonal, such as Harstad/Narvik Airport in Norway.

European Cargo's fleet includes Airbus A340-500 and A340-600 aircraft, with a total of 11 planes in operation. The airline also has plans to replace its A340 fleet with Boeing 777F aircraft in the future.

Broaden your view: International Cargo Insurance

European Cargo operates a fleet of aircraft, with a mix of passenger and cargo configurations. The fleet is made up of Airbus A340 and Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

As of April 2025, the fleet consists of 11 aircraft with an average age of 18.4 years. The fleet is comprised mostly of Airbus A340-600 aircraft, with 10 in total.

The A340-600 is the most common aircraft in the fleet, with eight of them currently inactive. The average age of the A340-600 fleet is 18.4 years.

Here's a breakdown of the fleet:

European Cargo serves a range of destinations across the globe. They operate scheduled flights to several countries, including Austria, China, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Their European destinations include Vienna, Châlons-en-Champagne (Vatry), and Harstad. They also have hubs in Bournemouth and Cardiff.

One of their notable destinations is Bournemouth Airport in the United Kingdom, which serves as a hub for European Cargo. London-Heathrow Airport is another destination they serve, although it's seasonal.

Their routes also extend to several cities in China, including Chengdu, Haikou, and Ürümqi.

Worth a look: United European Car Carriers

European Cargo operates a diverse range of routes, including scheduled flights and charter flights. The airline currently serves several destinations in Europe and Asia.

One of the key destinations on European Cargo's route map is the Flughafen Chengdu-Shuangliu in Chengdu, China. This airport is a major hub for the airline's operations in Asia.

Another important destination is Bournemouth Airport, which serves as a major hub for European Cargo's operations in the UK. The airline offers a range of flights to and from Bournemouth Airport.

In addition to these destinations, European Cargo also operates flights to the Flughafen London Heathrow in the UK, and the Flughafen Harstad/Narvik in Evenes, Norway.

For more insights, see: Iberia Airline Cargo Tracking

The European cargo industry relies heavily on airport infrastructure, with many major cargo hubs located in Europe.

A significant portion of European cargo is transported through major airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt Airport, and London Heathrow, which handle over 3 million tons of cargo annually.

These airports have invested heavily in modernizing their facilities to meet the growing demand for air cargo.

The construction of new cargo terminals and the expansion of existing ones have increased capacity and improved efficiency.

For example, the new cargo terminal at Amsterdam Schiphol has increased the airport's cargo handling capacity by 25%.

The proximity of these airports to major population centers and industrial areas also makes them ideal locations for cargo operations.

The availability of skilled labor and modern transportation infrastructure in these regions further supports the growth of the European cargo industry.

The expansion of air cargo capacity has also led to an increase in the number of flights and the size of aircraft used for cargo transportation.