Lufthansa Cargo to acquire LUG aircargo handling
The acquisition will add around 50,000 sq m of covered warehouse space and complement Lufthansa Cargo’s ongoing infrastructure modernisation in Germany.
L to R: Torsten Heitmeier, COO Dettmer Group; Frank Bauer, COO Lufthansa Cargo; Andreas Niemeyer, CEO Dettmer Group; Ashwin Bhat, CEO Lufthansa Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of German air cargo handler LUG aircargo handling GmbH as it looks to increase handling capacity and flexibility in its home market.
The agreement was signed on 7 September 2026, with the transaction subject to the necessary antitrust and regulatory approvals. Following the acquisition, LUG aircargo handling will continue to operate independently in the market, with its existing structures and customer relationships unchanged.
The acquisition is part of Lufthansa Cargo’s growth strategy and is intended to strengthen the company’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The additional handling capacity will complement Lufthansa Cargo’s existing ground handling infrastructure, which is undergoing modernisation under its LCCevo programme with an investment of around €600 million.
The company said the additional capacity will support future growth while allowing it to continue providing reliable and high-quality services to customers.
“In an increasingly volatile market environment, we want to become more flexible, more efficient, and more resilient for our customers,” said Frank Bauer, Chief Operating Officer of Lufthansa Cargo.
“That is why we are making targeted investments in our infrastructure in our home market in Germany to set the course to provide an even better offering for our customers and achieve profitable growth — this is a win-win situation for both companies,” he added.
LUG aircargo handling currently belongs to the Dettmer Group and has around 400 employees. The company has about 50,000 sq m of covered warehouse space in Germany, along with another 18,000 sq m of office and infrastructure space.
LUG has more than 60 years of experience in air cargo handling and handles a wide range of cargo segments. Its customers include major international airlines.
The Dettmer Group has welcomed the planned transaction and said LUG aircargo handling is well positioned for further growth under Lufthansa Cargo’s ownership.
