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Florian Reinke
Leipzig/Schkeuditz. Peace and quiet has returned to the former Amazon Air site. The cargo airline's blue planes do occasionally make a guest appearance at the Leipzig/Halle Airport - However, the US group had already ceased operations at the air freight hub at the end of 2023. Since then, the airport has been looking for a successor. An initial decision has now been made regarding the future of the site.
The LVZ has learned that a new building is to be built in the area instead of the existing Amazon facilities. This was preceded by talks between the airport management and companies interested in the space with direct access to the apron.
Buildings to be demolished
According to the airport, the new building should be able to be used for all relevant freight. If necessary, even by several companies. This would enable more efficient utilization of the space.
Conversely, this also means that the existing facilities will have to disappear. According to the airport, the buildings used by Amazon will be "completely dismantled by the company in the coming months", i.e. demolished. At the same time, talks are being held with potential new users for the site, it continues.
Source: Michael Strohmeyer
New logistics center to be built at Leipzig Airport
One thing is clear: the south side of the airport will continue to change in the near future. Because there is also movement on another site, not far from the former Amazon transshipment point. The Belgian Weerts Group is building a new logistics center on Hans-Wittwer-Straße. Construction work has recently begun.
Warehouse space of a good 37,500 square meters is to be created, divided into five units. They each have ten to twelve loading bridges and an access road. According to the investor, 100 jobs are to be created here. The employees are also likely to work in one of the office units that are also planned.
Source: Michael Strohmeyer
Completion planned for next year
According to the project managers, the first of the two hall areas should be completed by the end of April. Full project completion is scheduled for the end of 2025. The key question will be whether the Weerts Group will be able to attract tenants in the near future. The project developer is confident.
Commercial Director Norbert Dumoulin emphasizes that the company is convinced "that the growing demand for e-commerce and global trade has created a need for more logistics facilities". The new logistics center in Schkeuditz could help to "satisfy demand and drive economic growth in the region".
Logistics market in the region weakens
However, whether relocations are actually successful also depends on the overall economic development. And here the signs are not so good. The logistics market in the Leipzig area is currently beginning to weaken. According to a strong start to the year The take-up of space declined in the second quarter, according to a regional survey by real estate consultants BNP Real Estate.
Source: Wolfgang Sens
Due to the "persistently weak economic development, many companies are noticeably more cautious when it comes to renting new space, particularly in the large-scale segment, and tend to extend existing rental agreements where possible", the report states. How things will continue for the rest of the year will largely depend on further economic developments.
Further space potential available
It therefore remains to be seen whether Leipzig's northern region will continue to develop as dynamically as in previous years. In any case, there is still potential around the airport. As Uwe Schuhart, Group spokesman for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, explains, the development of vacant land is a key element in the successful further development of the airport.
Around 50 hectares are available in the northern area of the airport, which offer potential for aviation-related companies, says Schuhart. "In the central area, between the terminals and the airport railway station, around ten hectares are available on the Airport Campus for innovative companies in the fields of research and development, office buildings or service companies."
And then there is the Radefelder Allee. To the west of the road, the airport has 100 hectares that are to play an important role in the economic development of the northern region. An industrial area is planned here.
Those involved are aiming to attract future-oriented industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, the automotive industry and its suppliers, microelectronics, aerospace, chemicals and robotics. 3000 new jobs could be created.
