Lufthansa to use four new 777Fs to increase frequencies

Despite the general air of caution being felt across the airfreight industry as we enter 2019, Lufthansa Cargo is demonstrating its optimism with plans to boost airfreight capacity on its popular routes, according to a recent video.

The carrier is anticipating the arrival of four 777 freighters over the course of the year; with two new freighters going to both Lufthansa Cargo, and its 50/50 JV, AeroLogic Air. Upon delivery, the freighters will boost frequencies to destinations in Japan, India and the United States, “where customers seek more capacity,” said board member Dorothea von Boxberg.

Lufthansa is also ramping up its commitment to digitalization. “I think our customers know that we are adamant on making this industry more digital,” von Boxberg said.

The carrier made headlines in March 2018, when it announced it would begin to charge a fee for use of paper air waybills. Von Boxberg said that since the implementation of the measure, “the large majority of shipments” utilize electronic air waybills (e-AWBs).

Now, it plans to headline the digitalization of other kinds of traditionally paper-based communications. Its new dangerous goods platform – DGD online – launched in December, allows customers to make dangerous good declarations within IATA’s regulations in the system “so you can be sure you don’t make mistakes that go against those rules,” von Boxberg said.

Speaking of the carrier’s expectations of 2019, she continued: “We’ve just had two fabulous years so it’s always hard in this really volatile industry to believe in a good year after you’ve had two goods years,” mentioning trade tensions and tariffs as potential burdens for the industry that are on Lufthansa’s radar.

Check out the whole von Boxberg interview by following this link.