Lufthansa Cargo is increasing its weekly capacity to Argentina and Brazil as it looks to capitalise on raw material and agricultural trade growth.
The Frankfurt-hubbed freighter operator will add an extra weekly flight to its summer schedule for Boeing 777 freighter flights covering Buenos Aires in Argentina and Curitiba in Brazil.
The additions mean that Lufthansa will now fly to South America four times per week - twice to Buenos Aires and twice to Curitiba.
The airline said the additional flights were made possible by steering its schedule more efficiently rather than dropping flights from elsewhere.
”With strong export sectors such as agricultural products, energy and raw materials, Argentina remains an important pillar in the South American trade network despite the dynamic global economic situation,” Lufthansa Cargo said in a press release.
”Together with markets such as Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, which are valued globally for their exports of raw materials and agricultural products, the region is an increasingly important hub for intercontinental trade flows.
”At the same time, demand for high-value imported goods such as machinery, electronics and automobiles is growing throughout the region - a demand that Lufthansa Cargo, as a specialised airfreight expert with reliable connections for these sensitive goods from Europe, is specifically addressing.
”The Lufthansa Group’s cargo carrier is therefore systematically strengthening its presence in South America and relying on long-term partnerships in a market with great strategic potential.”
The flights also include stops in Viracopos (VCP) and Montevideo (MVD).
In addition, Lufthansa Cargo offers its customers up to 20 weekly rotations from Frankfurt and three rotations per week from Munich to South America with additional belly capacities within the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Ashwin Bhat said: “South America is and will continue to be an important growth market for Lufthansa Cargo. Especially in the perishables industry, we have built strong partnerships with our customers over the last three decades.”
Bhat was speaking during a naming ceremony in Argentina for the carrier’s latest 777 - delivered last year. The freighter was given the name Hola Argentina.
