During the pilot program, a total of 1,000 of the new-type composite containers were trialled in the global route networks of Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo.
Construction of the containers from innovative and lighter composites instead of aluminium reduces their weight by 20%, cutting fuel usage and CO2 emissions significantly. The new containers are made of glass fibre, Kevlar fibre or Dyneema® sourced from different manufacturers.
Lufthansa Cargo chairman Carsten Spohr said that the airline stands by its ecological commitment, i.e. to reduce its specific fuel consumption by 25% by 2020.
"The successful deployment of lightweight containers represents a paradigm change", said Jettainer managing director Alexander Plümacher. "Their innovative design with lighter materials for transport of freight and baggage will not only save costs for our customers but, simultaneously, reduce emissions considerably. That will make aviation become a little greener."
The container tests were designed to transform an innovative idea into an industry standard, as well to to assess the handling quality characteristics and costs of lightweight containers.
