Freight Transport

Lufthansa Cargo and Austrian Airlines have agreed to step up their co-operation in the airfreight sector, and will merge the global distribution activities, effective July 1st

Under the new agreement, the flow of cargo traffic through the hubs at Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna will be optimised, and both companies' product portfolios and production processes will be harmonised

In future, the two companies will jointly route their cargo traffic through the Vienna hub and boost freight flows

Lufthansa Cargo and Austrian Cargo will also integrate their freight handling and distribution activities in Austria In all other countries worldwide, freight activities will in future be amalgamated under the aegis of Lufthansa Cargo

Lufthansa Cargo CEO & chairman Carsten Spohr commented: "Vienna Schwechat will become a central European hub for Lufthansa Cargo - comparable to our German hubs at Frankfurt and Munich Thanks to Austria's excellent route network, Lufthansa Cargo customers will also be able to take advantage of direct flights to destinations in all corners of the globe"

Dr Andreas Bierwirth, chief commercial officer of Austrian Airlines, said that the agreement marks a further step in the airline's reorganisation "Our cargo business will benefit from the new structure We will lower our costs and improve our product portfolio At the same time, we will be able in future to provide our customers with a globe-spanning network and the extensive product portfolio of the world's largest air cargo alliance"