Lufthansa Cargo launches freighter operations from Munich

Lufthansa Cargo is expanding its operations at the southern German hub, and will be operating freighters from Munich Airport for the first time from July 6, 2024.

"An A321 freighter will connect Munich with Istanbul Airport twice a week, complementing the existing belly network from Munich," says an official release.

The new freighter connection is planned every Saturday and Sunday with flight numbers LH8350/LH8351 and LH8346/ LH8347, and Lufthansa Cargo customers can book their shipments on the new route with immediate effect, the release added.

“We are looking forward to offering our customers this new freighter connection, which makes our global network even more attractive," says Ashwin Bhat, CEO, Lufthansa Cargo. "For our southern German customers, in particular, Munich Airport offers ideal conditions for the fast and reliable transportation of air freight, which ultimately also enables global business from another important European airport. With the launch of our cargo operations out of Munich, we are laying the foundation for aligning our network even more closely with the needs of our customers in the future and continuing to manage it flexibly."

Jost Lammers, CEO, Flughafen München adds: "The launch of regular cargo flights to Istanbul by Lufthansa Cargo is very good news for the Bavarian export industry and for Munich Airport. Above-average growth rates in the current year have already shown that Munich Airport is also becoming increasingly important as a hub airport for cargo. The attractiveness of Munich Airport as a cargo location will now receive a further boost through Lufthansa Cargo's commitment."

Lufthansa Cargo operates its hub in Munich on a total area of 38,000 sq.mt. "Among other things, the state-of-the-art CEIV-certified Pharma Hub MUC, in which temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products can be stored and handled under optimal conditions, is integrated into the premises. This means that the carrier can also transport almost all product and goods groups via Munich. Until now, these have mainly been transported from the Bavarian capital to destinations all over the world via the belly capacities of Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Austrian Airlines and SunExpress passenger aircraft."

The hub is also connected to a dense road feeder service (RFS) network, which enables smooth transportation by road, the release added.