TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Belgium’s Liege Airport is pushing for closer ties with Taiwan’s air cargo sector, arguing that semiconductor trade could help support direct freight service between Taoyuan and the European hub.

That message was the focus of a Taiwan-Belgium air logistics exchange held in Taiwan on Monday, where Liege Airport commercial director Alexis Lapot presented the airport’s case to airline, freight, and government representatives, per CNA.

Rather than sell itself as just another European stop, Liege is presenting speed and flexibility as its main advantages. The airport runs around the clock, offers roughly 200,000 square meters of warehousing space, and sits within quick reach of markets that include the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

The airport is also banking on the flow of chip-related goods between Taiwan and Europe. Lapot said equipment made in Europe needs to be flown to Taiwan, while parts produced in Taiwan move the other way. He pointed in particular to the long-running business relationship between ASML and TSMC, saying Liege’s location could make it a practical gateway for that trade.

Liege’s cargo business has been growing steadily in recent years. Lapot said volume rose from about 1 million metric tons in 2023 to 1.15 million in 2024, then to around 1.3 million in 2025, per the report. The airport is forecasting roughly 1.4 million metric tons for 2026 and says it wants to raise handling capacity to 2.5 million over the long-term.

Taiwan-Europe shipments, once centered largely on electronics and bicycles, now increasingly include drones, heavy machinery, and goods connected to the semiconductor trade, according to airline industry sources cited by CNA.