Lufthansa Cargo is continuing to adjust its freighter network with the addition of two new destinations in China as it looks to capitalise on e-commerce demand growth.
The Frankfurt-hubbed carrier today announced that it would add Boeing 777 freighter flights to Shenzhen Boa’an International Airport (SZX) and Zhengzhou (CGO).
The SZX flights will operate twice per week while services to CGO will operate three times per week.
The additions come as the carrier expects to take delivery of its latest 777F over the next couple of months.
Both airports are new destinations and bring the airline’s total number of destinations in Asia Pacific to 19, with 47 weekly frequencies.
The airline’s chief executive Ashwin Bhat said the new flights would capitalise on the recent growth in e-commerce demand.
“In the Chinese market, the e-commerce business segment in particular is growing steadily , and we continue to see high demand, especially to Europe,” he said.
“Accordingly, additional airfreight capacity is needed to transport goods quickly, compliantly and safely. With the expansion of our Asian network, we can now serve even more important freight destinations in China for our customers.
“This will be possible thanks to the new 777F freighter, which we expect to receive in the course of this summer. This will not only mean enabling global business for our customers in a sustainable way, but also growing as a company in an important cargo region.”
Lufthansa took delivery of its latest 777 freighter in December and the one due this summer is the last outstanding freighter order the carrier has with Boeing for the model.
According to its website, the carrier currently operates 17 777 freighters and four Airbus A321Fs.
The new flights come shortly after the carrier announced a new destination in North America.
On June 3, the freighter operator launched a Boeing 777 freighter service to the Mexican city of Monterrey.
The service rotation heads from Frankfurt (FRA) to Mexico City (NLU) and then onwards to Monterrey International Airport (MTY) and back to Frankfurt.
Flights will operate on a Monday and Lufthansa reckoned the service would be of interest to automotive suppliers, electronics providers, and customers transporting medical products.
Lufthansa Cargo is also expanding its belly network to North America this summer through the summer schedules of its sister airlines.
