Cargolux turned 50 today: Know its history

Cargolux is the first airline to fly the 747-400F, and was also the launch customer for the 747-8F and first to operate both aircraft-type simulators. The airline has also contributed to the diversification of Luxembourg’s economy. This year marks a remarkable achievement for Cargolux, and the company intends on celebrating its 50^th anniversary all year long with special events for its customers and staff worldwide.

“It is a remarkable achievement for an all-cargo operator to celebrate 50 years in existence and I think I speak on behalf of the whole company when I say we are proud of how far our airline has come. We have weathered many storms over the years and this celebration shows the world how committed and dedicated our employees are. In addition, I would also like to thank all of our customers and business partners in helping us get to commemorating this memorable occasion,” said Richard Forson, Cargolux’s president and CEO.

A month ahead of its official anniversary date, Cargolux welcomed a specially branded aircraft to mark the occasion. LX-VCC, one of the company’s iconic 747-8 freighters, sporting a new livery emblazoned with a jubilee design and a new name “Spirit of Cargolux”. It now tours the world conveying the message of the company’s milestone. The rest of the Cargolux fleet also dons a commemorative emblem to mark the occasion.

Half a century ago, Luxembourg’s national carrier Luxair, Iceland's national carrier Loftleiðir, the Swedish shipping company Salén and some private investors, founded Cargolux. With a single aircraft and a handful of employees, these investors created the world’s leading all-cargo carriers as it is known today.