The World Cargo Summit 2025 in East, Belgium, paved the way for a compelling debate on the future of air freight, with a strong emphasis on the role of local airports in global logistics. The event, hosted at Casino Cural, was a significant shift in the focus of the operating-which shows the dominance of large hubs and displayed the agility, cost-effectiveness and the velocity of alternative cargo holes.
Eastend Bridge Airport CEO Eric Dumas opened the summit, and delivered a daring message on local airports as viable, effective alternatives to Europe’s busiest load up.
“Oostend is a city on the rise and mixing of historical character with a preheating business approach,” Dumas said. ‘Unlike larger airports, we work without slaughter restrictions or capacity restrictions, which offers 24/7 flexibility. Our airport ensures unparalleled velocity and reliability, with cargo arriving, within an hour through customs and on their way. It is a level of efficiency that can match very few hubs. “
He further emphasized the strategic location of Oostend, which puts it at the heart of the most important European trade routes, providing direct highway and port access. This proximity allows for seamless multimodal transport, which strengthens its position as a critical link between air freight and other cargo networks.
Oostend’s mayor, John Crombez, strengthened the city’s ambition to become a logistical power station.
“East is one of the few places in the world where you can find an airport, a harbor, a train station and large highways within a three -kilometer radius,” Crombez noted. “That level of connectivity is rare, and that is exactly why we consider our city as a natural pivot for air freight expansion.”
While acknowledging that global supply chains are very dependent on large load-downs, Crombez argued that regional airport could play a much greater role in the streamlining of operations, especially in e-commerce, perishable and express logistics sectors.
“The pandemic has proven how fragile supply chains can be,” he said. ‘It also showed us that logistics is just as strong as the worst link. Diversification of cargo operations outside of large hubs is not just about efficiency – it’s about resilience. “
The summit also highlighted Oostend’s continued infrastructure developments, designed to support faster cargo processing and accommodate future industry growth. Dumas outlined the latest investments from the airport, including:
- Runway renovation was completed in early 2024
- A new Cargo Village project to increase the handling capacity
- Public and private sector collaboration to improve freight capabilities
‘The growth of eastend as a cargo afternoon does not happen by chance. It is a strategic decision supported by investment and cooperation, ”Dumas said.
The World Cargo Summit 2025 was a clear turning point in the conversation about the future of Air Cargo. As Dumas summarized: ‘It’s no longer about size or volume. The future of air freight lies in quality, efficiency and flexibility. Regional airports are here to offer exactly it. “
