German airfreight giant reacts to weakest market demand than the two previous record years
Lufthansa Cargo will reduce its overall offering for the second and third quarters, last extended in late March.
The German carrier said that demand in the global air cargo market is “currently weaker than in the two previous record years”
This will allow the company to “ensure profitable load factors and continued deployment of its aircraft at optimum levels going forward”.
Peter Gerber, chief executive and chairman of the executive boardof Lufthansa Cargo, said: “We have traditionally taken a flexible approach to the flight programme for our freighter fleet to suit customer requirements.
“This has allowed us to respond quickly to normalising demand in the market so that our operations remain cost-effective. We will continue to closely observe market developments and to flexibly adapt our supply in line with demand.”
Services will be cut “across the entire flight programme” in line with trends in demand. Regional Lufthansa Cargo offices will inform their customers of the changes in good time.
A spokesperson said that the mid-year adjustment to the flights is in keeping with the planned fleet rollover from the airline’s older MD-11 freighter to the Boeing 777F.
The spokesperson added that 2019 should see “significant progress” in the freighter fleet change, saying: “Two new Boeing 777F aircraft were already integrated into the Lufthansa Cargo fleet in spring.
“The changes to the schedule will also pave the way for the final withdrawal from service of initially two MD-11F freighters by the end of the year.”
