Royal Schipol Group acquires 40% stake in MST as it looks to secure cargo capacity

Royal Schiphol Group has purchased a 40% stake in Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) as it looks to secure cargo capacity.
The airport group yesterday finalised the €4.2m investment in Maastricht, becoming the second shareholder in the airport alongside the province of Limburg, which owns the remaining 60%.
An agreement in principle on the deal was announced late last year.
Schiphol’s cargo division is hoping the deal will help enhance logistics connectivity in the country as the number one Dutch airport faces capacity constraints.
“Maastricht Aachen Airport is the second largest cargo airport in the Netherlands and makes a significant economic contribution to the country,” said Joost van Doesburg, head of cargo with Schiphol Airport (Schiphol).
“Both Schiphol and MST recognize 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.”
The two airports said they would share market intelligence and freight data as part of efforts to “develop innovations in cargo transport and handling”.
“Partnering with Schiphol will boost market confidence, and the benefits will be passed on to our cargo customers through our improved speed, and capacity,” said Jos Roeven, chief executive of MST.
“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.”
MST recently announced its plan to grow its freighter capacity by extending the operational length of its upgraded runway to 2,750 m by 2025.
The Airport is the European base for Turkish Cargo and Royal Jordanian, and an online station for Emirates, Qatar, and Saudia.
The airport is free of slot restrictions, offers full Fifth Freedom of The Air rights, and has its own maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities.