Topping Out Ceremony with Numerous Well Wishers

Today sees the Airport Magdeburg/Cochstedt celebrate the topping out ceremony of the first 1000m² hall as part of the ongoing construction work. Airport Proprietor Peter Sølbeck, General Manager  Uwe Hädicke and Operations Manager Silke Buschmann welcomed invited guests from political, corporate and media sectors in the terminal. Uwe Hädicke laid out information about the diverse opportunities and possibilities created by the expansion of the airport into a cargo and logistics centre adjacent to the runway and stressed its importance for the region: „Working together with the state Saxony Anhalt, the Salzland region, Grundstücksfand Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH and our first permanently settled airline at Cochstedt – RAF-AVIA from Latvia, we have embarked on an important economic journey for the future development of this airport and the regional infrastructure with this first investment in the area of airfreight.“ A total investment of approximately €8 million are allocated for the project „Cargo“ over the next couple of years.

The completion of this first cargo hall enables the airport to build up towards offering a comprehensive and prompt service to customers, including customs, manifests, processing of hazardous goods, document processing, AWB Creation, Erection and dismantling of ULD’s, loading of HGV’s, palett loading, storage of special freights, handling of haulier goods and commisioning of loads. „Our central location in the heart of Germany in particular, helped us in the decision to invest in the future of Saxony Anhalt’s infrastructure and the economic region of Mid Germany“,, Uwe Hädicke explains.

Judith and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zadek share this vision with the statement „nothing ventured, nothing gained!“. Prof. Dr. Zadek praised the „entrepreneurial vision“ and described the airport as a potential new „logistics hub, providing high quality yet cost efficient comprehensive services for the entire process of freight handling.“

Saxony Anhalt’s Minister for economy and trade, Hartmut Möllring, expressed his gratitude to the airport for not just having met conditions and promises as per contractual agreements but having even exceeded expectations. Minister Möllring was very pleased with the positive development of the airport. In his address, he put emphasis on the airport’s importance for Saxony Anhalt’s infrastructure, in particular due to its 24/7 operational license.

Background

Within a very short period of time following the issue of  the planning permission, the foundation was laid for the first Cargo hall at the Airport Magdeburg/Cochstedt international and marked the beginning of the 1,000m² and 7,000m² logistic centres in September. Construction has since been ongoing. The completion and official opening of the first hall is scheduled for November 2013, while the second and larger hall is due to be operational from spring 2014.

Both buildings will incorporate designated areas for specific temperature zones, storage facilities for warehousing, a live animal area as well as areas for hazardous goods, providing facilities for a great variety of requirements. Especially aviation affiliated enterprises and service providers can profit immensly from the direct connection to the apro. Furthermore, with the airport being a reglemented official own screening is available.