Since the largest centers are struggling with congestion and complexity, the Châlons Vatry Airport calmly has become the preferred option for e -commerce, genitals and covenants at the last minute.
Amid the high demand for flexible shipping, there is no charge, Châlons Vatry (XCR) properly submits a case for regional specialization. XCR places itself as more than just a substitute for crowded initial gates in France.
“We do not want to be the last option,” says administrative director Fabrice Bukit. “We want to be the preferred option.”
The strategic direction of XCR focuses on operational simplicity and flexibility. The airport is one of the few in France that offer operations around the clock, seven days a week. More importantly, it has no noise restrictions – a rare feature in Europe that provides tenants and integrated people in a much larger scheduling.
“XCR Airport is able to handle all types of goods,” says Bukit. “The main goals are to become the first option for e -commerce tankers and the charter operations for France.”
While most airports divide services between multiple third -party service providers, the XCR model is vertically integrated. “We are the airport operator, a slope processor and the ground agent,” explains Phuket. “This package is all in one unique in providing a single contact point.”
This airport structure enables to respond quickly to the operator’s requirements, especially in pricing and flying. “We adapt the rates to save the best prices,” says Bukit. The goal is to reduce the document [direct operating cost] For tankers.
E -commerce growth growth
The airport has seen a steady rise in e -commerce sizes, which remains the primary growth engine. However, geopolitical friction – especially between the United States and China – presented a layer of inability to predict.
“E -commerce is still strong, even if the diplomatic issue between the United States and China leads to unknown predictions,” Phuket notes. “It seems that Chinese customers have been cautious in new road holes.”
However, the XCR profile is running to order e -commerce on speed, size and flexibility. “Our infrastructure is an advantage due to size and” non -congestion. “
With a space for growth and minimal operational bottlenecks, the airport places itself as an e-commerce relief valve throughout France-especially when the largest axes are burdened or restricted to the curfew.
In 2025, XCR will break its current warehouse, which is 4200 square meters, to provide an expanded storage that is controlled by the temperature with a fixed range +15 ° C to +25 ° C-which is heading towards a high-value rebellion, medicines and sensitive electronics.
“Investing in the ability to provide a structure +15/ +25 will be throughout the year,” Pauquet confirms.
This comes at a time when Xcr is making efforts to become a damaged import gate, especially from Africa. After the ACW Africa conference, the airport created many new communications and sees itself in a good position to attract regional flows.
“The damaged market is one of the targeted corridors,” says Bukit. “After another Acu Africa, many contacts were made and there is a room for XCR airport to play a leading role in the French market.”
Although physical infrastructure will be visible, Pauquet stresses the importance of behind the scenes as well.
“We will also have some” invisible “investments from 2025, as we expect to go to ISO and CEIV certificates,” he added, in reference to the criteria for compliance with quality and compliance with the increasingly required drugs by global trainees.
XCR model is built around flexibility. The airport does not only deal with scheduling flights; It accommodates short uprooting charters and one -time charging movements often located outside the operational comfort area in the main centers.
“To be honest, cooperation is very good for all types of requests,” says Bukit. “We have flexibility in terms of resources when scheduling the trip.”
This ability makes the airport especially attractive for allocated operators and smaller carriers seeking to obtain specially designed solutions without solid timelines, queue, or multi -layer bureaucracy of large platforms.
“We are doing our best to provide a specially designed service even for the last minute covenants,” says Bukit.
Digital strategy
In a sector that rises in the words of the tanna – AII, Blockchain, predictive logistics – the XCR digital transformation efforts are affected by pragmatism.
“The digitization will be step 2025-2026,” says Bukit. “We will work with a French company to monitor our ground operations.”
Focus on technology for Tech, but on direct time and accurate operational performance data.
“This will also be a customer tool for direct timing and correcting data about the performance of the airport team,” he explained.
For goods management, XCR is currently used Cargospot, one of the standard industry platforms. “Let’s see what the next upgrade will be,” says Phuket, noting that more improvement may come with high digital tracking expectations. “The goal is to provide a case in an actual time on shipments.”
Quiet but intended
Pauquet is keen to move XCR towards more green operations, even if the airport does not launch a high -level net campaign.
“All of our thorns are now electric,” he says. “In 2025, we decided to invest in Green Gse to transport the crew and sloping operations, at least for our trips PAX.”
If we look forward, the traffic projects are on the agenda. “For 2026 and beyond, we have many traffic projects for energy buildings, warehouses and electrical aircraft gates,” he says.
The airport will continue to convert equipment into electricity or hydrogen, depending on the market entitlement. “We will continue to convert equipment into electricity or hydrogen, depending on the availability of the market,” Pauquet notes.
“We all know that there are big players – LGG, FRA, CDG and AMS – we cannot compete in it,” says Bukit. “But there is also room for regional airports in Europe for dedicated commercial corridors.”
Simple stadium: specially designed service, the fastest transformation and more intelligent prices.
“The great advantage of the regional airport is to target the appropriate market and provide a” premium “service designed with optimal prices to obtain customer loyalty.”
Taking into account the multimedia connection, XCR explores how to expand its road feeding services (RFS) and improve access to goods to France and abroad.
While Pauquet remains tight, it hints that the main advertisement can fall soon. “Let’s hope that we are able to announce good news on the RFS side!” He says.
He says, “We are still in the stages of negotiation.” “The fingers crossed!”
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