Lufthansa/DHL Joint Cargo Airline Confirmed
Confirmation was provided on the 20th September 2007 of Deutsche Post World Net AG and Lufthansa AG’s intention to create a new dedicated freight carrier, which would be jointly owned. The venture would aim to develop on both airlines’ attempts to gain a larger share of the air cargo market. Specifically, Lufthansa Cargo would work alongside DHL – the express/logistics strand of Deutsche Post, in a partnership that Freight International previewed several weeks ago.
No name has yet been given to the new creation. However, it will operate from Leipzig in Germany – starting in 2009. Annual sales figures are currently predicted at around the 500 million euro mark.
A collaborative venture between DHL and Lufthansa is a logical move for both firms, following recent co-operations at freight hubs in Brussels and Cologne. Additionally, DHL is the largest customer of Lufthansa.
The new airline, and its potential, was described by Klaus Zumwinkel – the Chief Executive of Deutsche Post. "This is an ongoing development consistent with our intercontinental joint venture which we began in 2004", he said.
"DHL will notably accelerate for customers the exchange of goods between Asia and Europe through market-leading transit times. That will also substantially strengthen Germany's position as a logistics base and additionally spur the economic upturn in our country."
According to Lufthansa, the new airline will have a fleet of 11 Boeing 777s, with deliveries due to commence from February 2009. Among its destinations will be Thailand, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, China, Italy, South Korea and Britain. Less frequently, the carrier will fly to the USA.
Freight International will continue to provide unrivalled coverage of the very latest developments of the new Lufthansa/DHL cargo airline as we get the facts.
Source – Freight International’s European Correspondent
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