Lufthansa adds Africa routes

Lufthansa Cargo is strengthening its presence in Africa. Since mid-September, the carrier has been flying to Lagos, Nigeria twice a week, with the MD-11F. At the end of October, the Tunisian capital, Tunis, will also be incorporated into the route network. The route will be served every Tuesday, with the MD-11F.

“As a growth market, Africa is becoming more and more important,” said Hermann Zunker, director Africa at Lufthansa Cargo. “Tunisia has become one of the most competitive countries in Africa. Strong imports of consumer goods as well as growing demand for exports to the automotive and textile industries, above all, are continuing to increase the need for air cargo.”

Nigeria provides good opportunities for import goods, according to Zunker.

“The standard of living is increasing, and with it, the need for consumer goods,” he said. “Traditionally speaking, another important customer of freight airlines is the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, with the industry dependent upon fast air freight connections.”

In addition, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, and Lufthansa Cargo will begin a strategic joint venture on routes between Japan and Europe, and vice versa, towards the end of the year. The first shipment from Japan is planned for the beginning of December 2014.

Bogotá has also been reintroduced into the route network, and from January 2015, will extend the route network to Central and South America. In the Colombia capital, fresh goods, such as flowers, make up the majority of the air cargo.