Cologne Bonn Airport - the logistical heart of NRW

Originally founded as a military base, Cologne Bonn Airport is now the logistical heart of North Rhine-Westphalia. Thousands of tonnes of freight take off from here every day to destinations all over the world - 24 hours a day, seven days a week - making it a vital part of Cologne's export-oriented economy. Here are some surprising facts about Cologne Bonn Airport.

European hub

Cologne Bonn Airport is a hub for major express service providers such as UPS Airlines, DHL and FedEx. UPS alone operates its European hub here on more than 105,000 square metres - with one of the largest sorting facilities in the world.  

One million tonnes of freight

In 2022 alone, around 971,000 tonnes of freight will be handled at Cologne Bonn Airport - spread over around 40,000 flights. The airport is now one of the ten largest cargo hubs in Europe. One million tonnes of freight

Particularly valuable

Valuable and time-critical goods, such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods and spare parts for industrial machinery, are transported by air. 

Working together

The airport is one of the ten largest employers in the region, with around 15,000 people employed by some 130 companies based at the airport. 

Particularly long

Cologne Bonn Airport has three runways. The longest is 3,815 metres long and 60 metres wide. 

Out into the world 24/7

Over 90 cargo destinations can be reached directly from Cologne Bonn Airport. This makes it particularly attractive for companies.