Lufthansa Cargo and Cathay Pacific have expanded their cargo partnership to include Swiss WorldCargo, which they say will provide customers with more choice.
The freight arm of Germany’s Lufthansa Group and the Hong Kong-based airline first set up their cargo joint business agreement in 2016, allowing them to coordinate sales, pricing, contracts, and the handling of shipments between Hong Kong and Europe.
Adding Swiss WorldCargo to the agreement will see the airlines initially cooperate on traffic from Hong Kong to Zurich and Frankfurt. Traffic to and from Hong Kong and the rest of Europe will be included in the expansion with Swiss WorldCargo later this year, the carriers said.
The expanded partnership comes amidst a busy time for the air freight industry, with supply chain problems resulting from COVID-19 restrictions having boosted the importance of air freight as a method of transporting goods. Lufthansa Cargo has posted record financial results and says an end to the air cargo boom is not in sight.
Swiss World Cargo is the air freight arm of Swiss International Air Lines, itself a part of the Lufthansa Group.
“The addition of Swiss WorldCargo’s flights to the already large combined network of Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) will further bring Hong Kong, the world’s busiest air cargo hub, closer to Europe and strengthen one of the world’s great trade lanes,” commented Cathay Pacific Director Cargo Tom Owen in a statement on May 31, 2022.
Lufthansa Cargo CEO Dorothea von Boxberg said cargo customers should gain quicker and easier shipping. “The expanded joint venture will generate numerous benefits for our customers because our networks, our hubs and our fleet complement each other effectively.”
The carriers said the joint activities will be carried out in compliance with all relevant laws, including those in Hong Kong and the European Union.