Cargo traffic at Brussels Airport declined by 1.1 per cent in September as freighters depart due to noise restrictions.

Total cargo was down 1.1 per cent to 42,446 tonnes, with full freighters slumping by 16.9 per cent to 12,176 tonnes, though integrators were up six per cent to 18,588 tonnes and belly cargo rose by nine per cent to 11,682 tonnes.

The airport says the decrease is largely due to airlines leaving due to stricter noise restrictions in Brussels.

It also says the decrease should be offset in the coming months due to flights moving from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Brussels Airport.

Brussels Airport says: “The Amsterdam airport has reached the maximum number of movements allowed which is why Singapore Airlines Cargo has chosen to move four of its eight weekly flights from Amsterdam to Brussels Airport.”

Total cargo volumes grew by 11.2 per cent in the first nine months of 2017 to 392,511 tonnes with all areas posting double digit increases.

Full freighters were up 12.3 per cent to 124,648 tonnes, integrators by 10.3 per cent to 165,706 tonnes and belly cargo by 11.4 per cent to 102,157 tonnes.