Royal Schiphol Group, a Dutch airport management company, announced on Thursday, June 8, that it has acquired a 40 per cent stake in Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST).
The €4.2M funding will see Maastricht Aachen Airport join the Royal Schiphol Group, safeguarding its future in a strategic alliance devoted to the hub’s sustainable growth.
The Dutch company becomes the Maastricht airport’s second stakeholder after the province of Limburg.
About Maastricht Aachen Airport
Founded in 1945, Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) is the second-largest cargo hub in the Netherlands. The airport in the province of Limburg is a key import station for flowers and the handling of dangerous goods.
MST also serves as the European hub for Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Royal Jordanian, and Turkish Airlines.
The airport enjoys complete Fifth Freedom rights and no slot limitations. It has its own facilities for maintenance, repair, and overhaul, and is IATA CEIV-Pharma certified.
What will the partnership offer?
In order to develop innovations in cargo transport and handling, the two hubs will collaborate and exchange market information and freight data.
Joost van Doesburg, Head of Cargo with Schiphol Airport (Schiphol), says, “Maastricht Aachen Airport is the second largest cargo airport in the Netherlands and makes a significant economic contribution to the country.”
“Both Schiphol and MST recognise the importance of cargo, valuable freighter slots and good connectivity with the rest of the world. This collaboration will add value for our cargo partners at both airports, as we strive towards innovation, efficiency and sustainability,” he adds.
Jos Roeven, CEO of MST, adds, “Partnering with Schiphol will boost market confidence, and the benefits will be passed on to our cargo customers through our improved speed, and capacity. Freight is vital to our national economy, so this is a key moment not only for the Dutch cargo community but also the Netherlands at large.”
The Dutch airports will also work together on product creation as well as in the fields of strategy, real estate, commerce, and maintenance.
The deal was signed as Maastricht Aachen Airport declared its intention to increase its cargo capacity by bringing the operating length of its modernised runway to 2,750 metres by 2025.
About Royal Schiphol Group
Royal Schiphol Group is an airport company, owner, co-owner and partner in several Dutch and international airports. Its main airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
In terms of passenger and freight traffic, it is Europe’s third-biggest airport. It employs almost 2,000 people who strive towards five fundamental values – to be reliable, efficient, hospitable, inspiring, and sustainable.
“These values help us realise our ambitions to be Europe’s Preferred Airport and the most sustainable hub airport in the world,” says the firm.
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