Lufthansa Cargo

File:McDonnell Douglas DC-8-73AF, Lufthansa Cargo AN0999262.jpg in 1994.]]

File:Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 747-200 Lebeda.jpg featuring the WOW Alliance logo in 2004.]]

File:D-ALCF_(4877501280)_(2).jpg wearing the airline's former livery in 2010.]]

File:D-ALFF@PEK_(20200724072617).jpg]]

Recognizing the growing importance of the cargo business, Lufthansa established its cargo subsidiary in 1977 called German Cargo Services GmbH.{{Cite web |last=Grüneberg |first=Anne |title=Chronologie: Der tiefe Fall der Lufthansa |url=https://www.rnd.de/wirtschaft/chronologie-der-tiefe-fall-der-lufthansa-SE3B2K7AVVGLXPR5PLWJXK5BYU.html |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=www.rnd.de |date=24 June 2020 |language=de}} Previously, cargo operations were executed in-house, under the Lufthansa Cargo name, when – in an effort to restructure the company – the cargo division was re-integrated into its parent, and split up into two parts (one for scheduled operations using Lufthansa-owned aircraft, and one for freight and logistics services using chartered or leased aircraft).{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In 1996, Hinduja Cargo Services was founded as a joint venture between Hinduja Group and Lufthansa Cargo. The company operated a fleet of Boeing 727 freighters, flying from airports in the Indian subcontinent to feed Lufthansa Cargo's hub at Sharjah International Airport.{{cite news|title=Lufthansa completes cargo formalities |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/lufthansa-completes-cargo-formalities/9885.article|access-date=19 July 2020|newspaper=FlightGlobal |date=3 April 1996}} The airline suspended operations in 2000 in favour of direct services from Frankfurt using Lufthansa Cargo aircraft.{{cite news|title=Lufthansa Cargo drops Hinduja link |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/lufthansa-cargo-drops-hinduja-link/31591.article|access-date=19 July 2020|newspaper=FlightGlobal |date=4 April 2000}}

In 2000, Lufthansa Cargo was a founding member of the WOW Alliance, a global cargo airline alliance, but left in 2007 as it did not see any benefits for the future.

In 2002 the special logistics company time:matters was founded, which was sold in the meantime, but is now again a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo.{{Cite web|title=Company|url=https://www.time-matters.com/company/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=time:matters|language=en-US}}

Lufthansa Cargo was created as a limited stock company on 30 November 2004, along with Lufthansa Cargo Charter. Lufthansa Cargo uses LH (the same IATA code as Lufthansa), as well as GEC (the former ICAO code of German Cargo) as airline codes.

As of 2007, Lufthansa Cargo used to operate a hub for intra-Asian flights at Astana International Airport in Kazakhstan, but was forced to relocate it to Yemelyanovo Airport in Russia in 2007, because otherwise the airline would have been banned from entering Russian airspace, in what was described as an act of economic blackmail by the Russian authorities.[http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,515032,00.html Russia 'Blackmails' Lufthansa over Cargo Hubs] Spiegel Online International 11/02/2007{{cite web|url=http://euobserver.com/9/25083|title=German flights row highlights EU-Russia trade tensions|date=5 November 2007 |access-date=10 July 2015}}

In 2004, Jade Cargo International was founded as a joint venture between Shenzhen Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, and the German Investment Corporation, a German governmental entity.{{Cite news |last1=Sheahan |first1=Maria |last2=Maushagen |first2=Peter |date=2011-12-16 |title=Lufthansa Cargo China near tipping point: CEO |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-manufacturing-summit-lufthansacargo-idUSTRE7BF19520111216 |access-date=2023-03-21}} This venture operated a fleet of six Boeing 747 freighters that flew to destinations that include Frankfurt, Chennai, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Jade ended operations in 2011.

As of 2011, all Lufthansa Cargo aircraft were based at Frankfurt Airport, the seventh busiest freight hub in the world, where the airline enjoys a strong co-operation with Fraport, the operator of the airport. Cargo facilities at the airport are divided into two places (Cargo City North and South), of which the first one is nearly exclusively used by Lufthansa Cargo. Lufthansa Cargo previously had a secondary base at Leipzig/Halle Airport, the European hub for DHL Express, from where it operated flights on behalf of DHL. Activities at this airport gradually came to an end following the formation of AeroLogic as a joint venture between Lufthansa and DHL, which henceforth caters for the DHL flights, allowing Lufthansa Cargo to concentrate on other services.[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/28/221143/aerologic-outlines-launch-and-expansion-plans.html AeroLogic outlines launch and expansion plans] Flight Global, 28 January 2008

In May 2011, Lufthansa Cargo opened another hub at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India, to transport temperature-sensitive goods, especially pharmaceuticals, between South East Asia and Europe (and onwards to the United States).{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/verkehr/netzwerkplanung/lufthansa-cargo-eroeffnet-pharma-drehkreuz-hyderabad/24240|title=Lufthansa Cargo eröffnet Pharma-Drehkreuz Hyderabad|work=airliners.de|access-date=10 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228050956/http://www.airliners.de/verkehr/netzwerkplanung/lufthansa-cargo-eroeffnet-pharma-drehkreuz-hyderabad/24240|archive-date=28 February 2013|url-status=dead}}

In 2019, heyworld GmbH was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo with a focus on eCommerce logistics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2019/06/lufthansa-cargo-gruendet-heyworld/|title=Lufthansa Cargo gründet heyworld|date=5 June 2019|access-date=18 September 2022|website=Austrian Wings|language=German}} The company and another Lufthansa subsidiary was planned to benefit from the Airbus A321F operations.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=Lufthansa Cargo 'rides the waves', expanding into A321Fs and long-haul leisure|url=https://theloadstar.com/lufthansa-cargo-rides-the-waves-expanding-into-a321fs-and-long-haul-leisure/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Loadstar}}

In September 2020, Lufthansa Cargo confirmed it was retiring its remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-11F during 2021 despite the grown freight demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/lufthhansa-cargo-fuer-unsere-md-11-f-geht-letzte-sommer-zu-ende aerotelegraph.com] (German) 2 September 2021 The last MD-11F flight took place on 17 October 2021.[https://www.flugrevue.de/zivil/die-diva-ist-geschichte-lufthansa-cargo-schliesst-das-kapitel-md-11f/ flugrevue.de] (German) 17 October 2021

In June 2024, Lufthansa Cargo announced the inauguration of its first freighter services from Munich Airport with scheduled flights to Istanbul.[https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/141532-lufthansa-cargo-launches-freighter-operations-from-munich ch-aviation.com - Lufthansa Cargo launches freighter operations from Munich] 19 June 2024

{{As of|2021|5}}, Lufthansa Cargo serves 57 cities worldwide.{{cite press release |date=27 September 2013 |url=http://lufthansa-cargo.com/en_de/metanavigation/pressmedia/press-releases/einzelansicht/article/lufthansa-cargo-focuses-on-latin-america/?no_cache=1&cHash=47a577028633497e47f936273c6d0b26 |title=Lufthansa Cargo focuses on Latin America |publisher=lufthansa-cargo.com |access-date=14 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131115021335/http://lufthansa-cargo.com/en_de/metanavigation/pressmedia/press-releases/einzelansicht/article/lufthansa-cargo-focuses-on-latin-america/?no_cache=1&cHash=47a577028633497e47f936273c6d0b26 |archive-date=15 November 2013 }}

{{As of|2023|12}}, the Lufthansa Cargo fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{cite web |url=https://lufthansa-cargo.com/fleet-ulds/fleet |title=Our fleet |publisher=Lufthansa Cargo |access-date=3 July 2023}}

The initial fleet of Lufthansa Cargo previously belonged to German Cargo, and was expanded by cargo-converted former Lufthansa Boeing 747-200s. From 1998, the airline began to gradually phase out all other aircraft types in favour of a fleet entirely consisting of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (which Lufthansa received as freighter versions in 2001 after MD-11 production ended) version and its successor, the Boeing 777 freighter.

In March 2011, an order of five Boeing 777F was announced, the same aircraft type which had earlier been chosen for AeroLogic.{{cite web|url=http://presse.lufthansa.com/en/news-releases/singleview/archive/2011/march/16/article/1896.html|title=Lufthansa invests in passenger and freighter fleet|author=COMKOM° GmbH, Germany|access-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315162459/http://presse.lufthansa.com/en/news-releases/singleview/archive/2011/march/16/article/1896.html|archive-date=15 March 2012}} Almost the entire Lufthansa Cargo fleet today is composed of purpose-built freighter aircraft. Lufthansa Cargo had planned to retire its remaining MD-11s by December 2020, but the retirement was delayed due to the increased cargo demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the delivery of the first Boeing 777F, Lufthansa Cargo started to name their aircraft using typical greetings of the countries they serve. The first 777F was named Good day, USA, while an MD-11F was named Buenos días México for example.{{cite web|url=https://www.lh-taufnamen.de/cargo/|title=Lufthansa Cargo|website=Lufthansa Taufnamen|access-date=9 November 2019}}

In October 2024, Lufthansa CityLine transferred all four of its Airbus A321-200/P2F to Lufthansa Cargo which it had operated for them.[https://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-cityline-uebergibt-a321-p2f-lufthansa-cargo/77563 airliners.de - "Lufthansa Cityline hands over A321-P2F to Lufthansa Cargo"] (German) 4 November 2024

Over the years, the following aircraft types were operated:{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

• On 11 December 1978, the Lufthansa heist took place. A group of criminals managed to get into the Lufthansa Cargo offices at JFK Airport in New York City. They threatened staff by pointing guns and stole more than $5 million( 27 million today ). Only a small portion of the money was recovered.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
• On 26 July 1979, a Boeing 707 freighter (registration D-ABUY) operating Flight 527 crashed into a hilly slope shortly after take-off, killing all 3 crew-members on board. The cause of the accident was mainly attributed towards the lack of Brazilian Air Traffic control to pay necessary attention to aircraft in their airspace and warn aircraft of the impending collision with terrain.{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-330C D-ABUY Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport, RJ (GIG)|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19790726-1|access-date=2022-02-18|website=aviation-safety.net}}
• On 18 October 1983, a Boeing 747-200 freighter registered D-ABYU operating as Flight 683 overshot the runway during an aborted takeoff at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong having experienced a failure of the number 2 engine. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but was repaired and returned to service.{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-230F D-ABYU Hong Kong-Kai Tak International Airport (HKG)|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19831018-0|access-date=2020-11-02|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
• On 7 July 1999, a Boeing 727-243 freighter leased from Hinduja Cargo Services operating as Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533 from Nepal to India, crashed into a mountain after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, killing all five people on board.{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-243F VT-LCI Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM)|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19990707-0|access-date=2020-11-02|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
• On 7 November 2004, at 16:35 local time, a Boeing 747-200 freighter, owned and operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, overshot the runway upon take-off at Sharjah International Airport and was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft, registered TF-ARR, had been leased by Lufthansa Cargo to operate Flight 8457 to Frankfurt Airport. The pilots had decided to abort the take-off run even though the remaining runway length did not suffice to bring the aircraft to a halt because of a burst tyre and the ATC notification of an alleged fire (which turned out to be not true). The four people on board were not injured.{{cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|date=7 November 2004|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-230F (SCD) TF-ARR Sharjah Airport (SHJ)|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20041107-0|access-date=10 July 2015|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
• On 27 July 2010, at 11:38 local time, Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8460, an MD-11 registered D-ALCQ, crashed upon landing at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and was damaged beyond repair in the ensuing fire. The Pilot in command and the Officer — the only two people on board — were able to leave the aircraft by themselves.{{cite news|date=27 July 2010|title=UPDATE 2-Lufthansa cargo plane crashes at Saudi airport|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE66Q10Z20100727|access-date=2010-07-27}}{{cite news|date=2010-03-27|title=Lufthansa cargo plane crashes at Riyadh airport|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10772817|access-date=2010-07-27}}{{cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|date=27 July 2010|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11F D-ALCQ Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport (RUH)|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100727-0|access-date=10 July 2015|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
• On 24 November 2013, Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8258, an MD-11 registered D-ALCE, bounced during landing at Viracopos International Airport and initiated a go around. The aircraft landed with substantial damage. It was later repaired and returned to service.{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11F D-ALCE São Paulo/Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, SP (VCP)|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20131124-0|access-date=2020-11-02|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Lufthansa Cargo}}

• [http://lufthansa-cargo.com/ Official website]

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