Joint Cargo Airline Expected from Lufthansa/DHL
It is widely thought that a new cargo airline will soon emerge from a partnership between Lufthansa Cargo and DHL, which would potentially operate up to 10 airlifters. Sources in contact with the project have stated that both carriers have made significant progress in discussions on the airline, which could take to the air within two years. The project, currently identified as "NewCo", would be the most ambitious venture to date from the DHL/Lufthansa series of collaborations.
The base for the airline would be Germany's Leipzig-Halle; newly established as a prime DHL hub.
The two aircraft types under consideration are the Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 designs, both in their freighter forms, although current thought places the newer, 777 type over its older stablemate in this regard.
Three years ago, these two firms co-operated in establishing intercontinental flights; carrying cargo between the US, Asia and Europe. The flying element is provided by Lufthansa Cargo alone, while the corporate side is managed by Aerologic, in which both companies are involved. Lufthansa, commenting on the scale of this collaboration, has described it as "the industry's biggest operational partnership between a cargo carrier and an express and courier company".
Also three years ago, Lufthansa Cargo and DHL were again jointly involved, this time in the pharmaceutical sector. Their joint venture group LifeConEx was formed in order to manage temperature-controlled transport within the drug industry.
Regarding this new cargo airline, Lufthansa Cargo has so far not provided public comment. However, it has recently confirmed that a number of current flights are to be relocated to Leipzig-Halle; the site of DHL's new base.
Commenting on the relocation, Lufthansa Cargo's Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Spohr, said: "With the flight transfers to Leipzig, DHL and Lufthansa Cargo are continuing their longstanding co-operation."
Source - Freight International's European Correspondent
