Lufthansa Cargo to cut hours of work as demand slackens

LUFTHANSA Cargo plans to introduce shorter working hours for 2,600 staff to cope with the low level of cargo on the global market.

Details of the plans are to be worked out as soon as possible with the goal of enabling the company to flexibly adapt staffing capacities to accommodate falling demand, according to a company statement.

Lufthansa Cargo chairman Carsten Spohr said that "demand for air freight has fallen sharply. The production halt in diverse industries has hit the entire international logistics business - and especially the air cargo industry.

After scaling back our freighter capacities, flexible adjustment of staffing capacities has become inevitable in the company's present situation. We are nevertheless confident that we will be able to safeguard all jobs at Lufthansa Cargo.

In December 2008, Lufthansa Cargo's freight tonnage dived by 21.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2007.

According to the Associated Press, the company had earlier said it would reduce its freighter capacity by 10 per cent from January 1.

Source: Portnews