Lufthansa Cargo adapts freighter programme

Lufthansa Cargo AG is flexibly adapting capacity to declining demand. Freighter capacities are to be reduced by around ten per cent on 1 January 2009. Simultaneously, Lufthansa Cargo will reduce its cooperation with World Airways, which up to now has operated two freighters of the MD-11F type and a Boeing 747-400F for the crane airline. Those routes will in future be served by Boeing 747-400ERF aircraft in the fleet of the German-Chinese airfreight carrier Jade Cargo International.

“Lufthansa Cargo is adapting capacity in face of increasingly difficult economic conditions and a distinct falloff in demand,“ remarked Lufthansa Cargo Chairman Carsten Spohr. “We will continue operating all our 19 MD-11 freighters, while utilising the capacity adjustments to further improve our quality, reliability and punctuality.“

Expansion of cooperation with Jade Cargo International

Against the background of current market conditions Lufthansa Cargo and Jade Cargo International will step up their cooperation at the beginning of the New Year. The crane-emblemed carrier is taking over the marketing of the bulk of flights operated ex Asia by its subsidiary from 1 January 2009. It has been responsible for marketing Jade Cargo capacities ex Europe since March 2008.

Customers of both airlines will profit in a variety of ways from the new setup: Through a harmonised and closed capacity portfolio, through a clear “one voice to the customer“ policy, through centralised and decentralised frequencies and a bundling of the marketing skills of the two organisations.

From mid-2009, Lufthansa Cargo will also have capacities on the new Boeing 777-200LRF freighters in the AeroLogic fleet at its disposal. The joint venture set up by DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo will begin operations with a delay of several months due to delayed deliveries from Boeing owing a strike of several weeks in the USA.

“The challenges are immense in face of the poor economic situation. But Lufthansa Cargo is positioned excellently and is embarking optimistically on 2009,” underlined Spohr. “We have proved so often in the past that we can react quickly and flexibly to fluctuations in demand and that we have a high synergy potential in our Lufthansa Cargo Group. Therefore, we will emerge from this market crisis stronger than before.”

Source: Transportweekly