New cross-Channel multimodal service offers reliability and speed, says OST chief

Ostend-Bruges Airport

Last month, Ostend-Bruges Airport (OST) began “a strategic partnership” with Getlink (formerly-Eurotunnel) subsidiary LeShuttle Freight to establish a high-speed, multimodal logistics corridor between mainland Europe and the UK.

It aims to provide faster, more flexible, and more sustainable cargo solutions, particularly for time-critical shipments such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, and ecommerce.

OST is strategically located less than 60 miles from the LeShuttle Freight terminal in Coquelles, near Calais, enabling air cargo arriving at the Belgian airport to reach the UK, via the Channel Tunnel, in approximately two hours 30 minutes – under optimal transport conditions.

The airport’s CEO, Nathan de Valck, provided The Loadstar with the lowdown on the new air-truck-rail-truck solution.

The Loadstar: What volume of air cargo traffic are you looking to handle?

NdV: This partnership is designed to create a scalable and reliable flow of goods between OST and the UK. If even 20–40% of OST’s freighter traffic is destined for the UK, this could already translate into around 10 trucks a week via the Tunnel.

On top of the time and cost savings, these ‘conservative’ figures demonstrate why this agreement is such a strong value-proposition. The collaboration strengthens OST’s position as a cargo hub and creates opportunities to attract additional routes. Importantly, all cargo operators at OST can take advantage of this option for their UK flows.

However, we have deliberately chosen not to set rigid daily or weekly targets. Instead, the model is built to be flexible. Each arriving charter flight can immediately be translated into truck capacity via LeShuttle Freight, with frequency adjusting dynamically to demand – particularly during peak periods for e-commerce goods and perishables.

The Loadstar: What feedback have you received from shippers and forwarders on the opportunities offered through this partnership?

NvD: The feedback has been highly encouraging. Forwarders value the ability to combine the speed of air cargo with a rapid and predictable UK connection. Fixed Tunnel frequencies and the absence of weather-related delays, which can affect ferry crossings, are especially appreciated. Shippers of time-sensitive goods highlight the real value of an integrated customs and multimodal solution that delivers reliability.

Nathan De Valck

The Loadstar: Are supermarket retailers, attracted by a service which can deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to their distribution hubs in as little as two-and-a-half hours of aircraft landing at OST, one of your main target groups?

NvD: Absolutely. Retailers are increasingly focused on reducing time-to-shelf for fresh products. With direct air cargo arrivals at OST and a rapid Tunnel connection, UK supermarkets can receive high-quality fruit and vegetables only a few hours after an aircraft lands. The value-proposition is clear: predictable timing, product freshness, and integrated customs clearance – which all contribute to higher quality on the shelf.

The Loadstar: Will you be able to maintain sufficient volume to make it a commercially viable and profitable solution for retailers?

NvD: We are confident about the volumes. OST already handles regular flows of ecommerce, perishables, and general cargo that naturally generates UK truck traffic. Retailers are therefore plugging into an integrated and growing network. The strong interest from forwarders and shippers reassures us that volumes will be sufficient for commercial viability, with clear potential to grow further in line with market demand.

The Loadstar: What provision have you made for backload/return leg traffic from the UK to OST?

 NvD: Return leg traffic is crucial. We are already in contact with UK shippers and forwarders to ensure consistent two-way flows.

The Loadstar: What regular charter services currently operate to OST?

NvD: The airport has a long tradition of handling bespoke cargo operations. At present, the main regular cargo flows originate from Africa, transporting flowers, fruit and vegetables. In recent years, we have operated full cargo charter flights for the ecommerce sector and are currently in discussions regarding scheduled freighter charters.

The Loadstar: What are the main categories of goods they are carrying?

NvD: Core commodities include perishables and, in addition to fruit and vegetables, seafood, and flowers, ecommerce, pharmaceuticals, and occasional special/project cargo.

The Loadstar: What cargo tonnage did OST handle last year, and what are the targets for 2025 and 2026?

NvD: In 2024, Ostend-Bruges Airport handled 18,124 tons of cargo, continuing its positive growth trajectory. For 2025 and 2026, we anticipate further expansion, driven by strong ecommerce and perishable cargo flows, as well as the growth of multimodal logistics solutions, such as our collaboration with LeShuttle Freight.

Our target ambitions reflect this upward trend: in 2025, approximately 30,000 tons; and in 2026, between 60,000 and 70,000 tons. These projections underscore our long-term commitment to developing OST as a specialised and flexible cargo hub for Europe.