At the Munich event, Lufthansa Cargo reaffirmed its central role in European air freight. The German airline stated its intention to pursue a growth model based on network expansion, partnership with Ita Airways, and a logistics offer tailored to the needs of complex and strategic industrial sectors. All of this under the banner of its motto Enabling global business, which aims to create the conditions for more efficient, faster, and more reliable international trade.
As for cargo hubs, Lufthansa Cargo will include Rome Fiumicino from mid-June, adding it to its existing hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Brussels. Rome’s new strategic importance follows the Lufthansa Group’s acquisition of a minority stake in Ita Airways. The German carrier will gradually market the Italian airline’s cargo hold capacity, with an estimated twenty percent increase in overall freight availability. The first flights from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires to the Italian capital will take off on 16 June.
Lufthansa Cargo CEO Ashwin Bhat highlighted that the strength of the Lufthansa Group, combined with service reliability and quality, allows the company to offer unique transport solutions for all types of goods, from microchips to insulin, from aircraft engines to urgent spare parts. According to Bhat, the key to navigating an ever-changing global landscape lies in the company’s ability to quickly adapt to market fluctuations and customer needs.
Among the new routes announced is a weekly flight from Frankfurt to Beirut, starting on 3 July 2025, operated with an A321F. With this new connection and the cargo capacities of the group’s airlines, Lufthansa Cargo will be able to offer access to more than fifty destinations across the Middle East and Africa, strengthening supply chains in a highly dynamic region.
At Transport Logistic, Lufthansa Cargo also showcased a range of logistics solutions designed to meet the precision, safety, and traceability requirements of complex industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and aviation. For instance, the company demonstrated its ability to prioritise the transport of critical production components, temperature-sensitive goods or high-value devices, thanks to certified infrastructure, real-time tracking systems, and high-speed services such as td.Zoom and Emergency.
In the pharmaceutical sector, Lufthansa Cargo handled around 87,000 tonnes in 2024, supported by its two certified Pharma Hubs in Frankfurt and Munich and a global network that includes thirty CEIV Pharma stations and six GDP-certified locations. The semiconductor sector, which is expected to exceed a global value of 1.2 trillion US dollars by 2030, is also a priority for the carrier. For over thirty years, it has ensured safe transport for sensitive equipment, microchips, and precision components.
For the aerospace industry, Lufthansa Cargo has strengthened its services for transporting turbines and oversized parts, managing over a thousand shipments in 2024 with the support of a dedicated technical team. Alongside this, the company ensures high-priority deliveries of urgent spare parts, all in compliance with IATA regulations for the transport of dangerous goods. Bhat also announced that from 1 July, Frank Bauer will take over the company’s operations as the new Chief Operating Officer.
