COSCO SHIPPING, HHLA Expand Hamburg Aircraft Cargo Facility as Airbus Volumes Grow

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The Port of Hamburg has expanded its dedicated aircraft component handling capacity at the Tollerort Terminal, strengthening its role in supporting the movement of oversized aerospace cargo between Europe and China.

COSCO SHIPPING Europe, together with HHLA Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG and Airbus, officially opened an enlarged handling area for aircraft components at Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) in Hamburg. The expansion comes as demand continues to grow for the transport of pre assembled aircraft sections produced by Airbus in Hamburg and shipped to Tianjin, China, for final assembly.

According to the companies, Airbus aircraft sections have been moving through the terminal since 2008. The cargo consists of large, pre assembled aircraft structures that require specialized handling, storage, and loading procedures due to their size and sensitivity.

In 2025, CTT handled nearly 300 aircraft components with a combined weight exceeding 5,000 tonnes. To accommodate rising volumes, HHLA has doubled the terminal’s dedicated storage capacity, increasing the number of handling bays from 10 to 20.

The expansion is designed to improve operational efficiency while maintaining the safety requirements associated with high value aerospace cargo.

Several infrastructure enhancements have been introduced as part of the project. A newly developed mooring technique has been implemented to streamline vessel handling and cargo operations at the terminal.

The facility has also been equipped with an extended wind barrier intended to provide additional protection for sensitive aircraft sections during storage and handling activities. Given the dimensions of aircraft fuselage sections and other oversized components, weather protection remains a critical factor in maintaining cargo integrity throughout the logistics process.

Specially trained terminal teams have also been deployed to manage the cargo, reflecting the technical requirements associated with aerospace logistics.

The Airbus logistics chain connecting Hamburg and Tianjin represents one of the most established industrial cargo corridors in Europe. The continued investment at Tollerort highlights the importance of specialized project and breakbulk logistics infrastructure within major container ports.

For Hamburg, the expansion reinforces the port’s position as a strategic gateway for industrial manufacturing exports and supports one of the city’s most significant industrial sectors.

The project was completed while terminal operations continued without interruption, allowing ongoing cargo flows to be maintained throughout the construction and implementation phases.