A new twice-weekly, year-round freighter service between Halifax and Liège, Belgium launched by Maersk Air Cargo in late 2024 is enhancing connectivity to European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets for Nova Scotia seafood exports.
“This was a significant development for Halifax Stanfield’s global reach and was made possible in part due to infrastructure investments like the Air Cargo Logistics Park,” said Jess Pettigrew, communications and marketing advisor for the Halifax International Airport Authority.
Opened in 2022, “the Air Cargo Logistics Park has enhanced our ability to receive, store and process seafood that is destined for global markets, expanding our international cargo capacity and fostering exports for the region,” said Pettigrew.
“Looking ahead, multiple freighter airlines have expressed interest in expanding their capacity in the Halifax market, a promising sign for the future of air cargo services in the region. Our new International Connections Facility, opening in 2025, will enable further expansions of aircraft belly cargo capacity and support Atlantic Canada’s export market.”
Last year, Halifax Stanfield was served by a diverse mix of cargo operators and passenger airlines that transported lobster and seafood to both domestic and international destinations, said Pettigrew.
“Dedicated cargo carriers included Korean Air Cargo, CargoJet, Maersk Air Cargo, EVAS Air, Atlas Air and Morningstar (FedEx). These were supplemented by passenger airlines offering belly-hold cargo capacity, including Air Canada Cargo, Discover Airlines, WestJet Cargo, Icelandair, Condor Flugdienst and Air Saint-Pierre, providing connectivity to their global networks. Additionally, 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of Korean Air Cargo’s service at Halifax Stanfield, a milestone that highlights the airport’s continued importance in global seafood logistics,” said Pettigrew.
In 2024, nearly 26,198 metric tonnes of cargo was shipped through Halifax Stanfield, down 33.6 per cent from 2023, said Pettigrew.
“Seafood, primarily live lobster, represents a significant portion of our cargo exports. We do not have our 2024 economic output figures yet, as an external consultant will calculate these figures as part of our annual economic impact study in September 2025. However, WiserTrade has total Nova Scotia exports out of Halifax Stanfield in 2024 valued at CAD $536 million, with seafood accounting for CAD $300 million, representing 56 per cent of total cargo exports. In 2023, the total economic output of air cargo exports for the provincial economy was $876 million according to our 2023 Economic Impact Study.”
Halifax Stanfield handled 1,197 dedicated cargo flights in 2024, a 24.2 per cent decrease from the 1,580 flights recorded in 2023.
“The decrease in air cargo volume and capacity compared to previous years can be attributed to several factors, including limited cargo aircraft availability, fluctuations in the global economy, and a reduced supply of lobster exported over the past year. Despite these challenges, air cargo at Halifax Stanfield remains steady, with opportunities for continued growth,” said Pettigrew.
