Lufthansa Cargo is targeting a top-three global ranking and has stated that business is thriving despite geopolitical and economic headwinds
Lufthansa Group has stressed that the current air cargo market holds opportunities for Lufthansa Cargo despite geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
The German airline group outlined how Lufthansa Cargo is making the most of the operating landscape in a release covering its strategic planning and medium-term financial targets, as announced at its Capital Markets Day on 29 September in Munich.
"Lufthansa Cargo is benefiting particularly from growing demand in the e-commerce business and opportunities arising from the volatility of global markets," said Lufthansa Group.
"The expansion of cargo capacities at Europe's largest cargo airline, significant investments of €600m in the central cargo hub at Frankfurt Airport, and the consistent expansion of automation and digitalisation are increasing Lufthansa Cargo's profitability, with the aim of becoming one of the top three global players in the air cargo sector."
In its second quarter 2025 management presentation, Lufthansa said that Lufthansa Cargo's second quarter revenues were supported by generally robust market demand, including e-commerce business from Asia, despite the rollout of US tariffs.
Revenues were up 3% year on year to €820m and adjusted EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) was up 103% to €73m. Volumes were also up 8% year on year and the cargo load factor was 62.9%, up 2.1% year on year. Lufthana commented: "Despite the burden of US tariffs, base yield proves to be robust."
Lufthansa Cargo told Air Cargo News in June that it was targeting a return to the top three global air cargo carriers in terms of volumes over the coming years.
Lufthansa is offering customers more belly capacity in Europe this winter following its cooperation agreement with ITA Airways, as well as expanded global belly and freighter capacity.
The Group is now able to offer capacity on the services of eight airlines through five hubs. The carrier also has seven 777-8F freighters on order to boost its freighter fleet.
In a separate recent update, Lufthansa Cargo said recent technology developments include teaming up with DSV to implement a pilot project for the transport of highly sensitive semiconductor production machinery from Japan to Germany.
At the end of August, two test shipments were made from Narita via Frankfurt to Dresden – both successful, with a third following in September.
Lufthansa Cargo has also launched an interactive map of its global pharma stations on its website. This tool provides greater transparency and convenience for its "Passive Temp Support" and "Active Temp Control" products.
The business is further trialling new computer-based cargo measurement methods in Frankfurt and Los Angeles to handle freight more efficiently in the warehouse and load aircraft more profitably.
Shipments are scanned on the conveyor belt or forklift truck during ongoing operations, eliminating the need for an additional process step in the storage or loading process.
The freight's actual dimensions are measured automatically and provided in real time, which will prevent discrepancies between declared and recorded dimensions in the future, said Lufthansa Cargo.
This data can be used to optimise the entire transport chain, enabling aircraft to be utilised more efficiently, storage space to be evaluated more effectively, and onward transport routes to be planned more accurately.
Until now, this step has been carried out using laser scanners and manual checks. However, newer technologies can perform this task much more efficiently and accurately, said Lufthansa Cargo.
Once the test phase is complete, Lufthansa Cargo will decide how these technologies can be used long term, and whether they can be used at other locations.
