Lufthansa Cargo will start marketing the cargo capacities on ITA Airways routes from next month and has added Rome (FCO) as its fifth hub.
Rome-headquartered ITA Airways has officially been part of the Lufthansa Group since the beginning of the year. The Group initially acquired a 41% stake in the Italian airline, with the aim of acquiring further shares.
For flights starting from 16 June, Lufthansa Cargo will start marketing the cargo capacity under its own Air Waybill (AWB) prefix from São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Buenos Aires (EZE) to Rome.
On all other routes, both airlines will initially continue to operate under two separate AWB numbers. Following regulatory approvals, Lufthansa Cargo will gradually take over the marketing of the Italian airline’s belly capacities on all continental and intercontinental routes under its own AWB prefix.
Overall, the global belly capacities available to Lufthansa Cargo customers will then increase by almost 20%, said Lufthansa Cargo. In future, cargo customers will have access to a denser global network, including the belly capacities marketed within the Lufthansa Group.
“Along with our partner ITA Airways, we are excited to offer our customers even more attractive routes, additional capacities and solutions to and from Europe as well as worldwide to meet their transportation needs,” said Ashwin Bhat, chief executive of Lufthansa Cargo.
“The extended network further reinforces Lufthansa Cargo’s purpose of enabling global business. In addition to Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels, Rome will be our 5th hub that will help us offer flexible and quality solutions to our customers.
“Our customers will benefit from even more reliable, faster connections to and from Southern Europe and avail the known Lufthansa Cargo solutions and services via Rome.”
Joerg Eberhart, chief executive and general manager of ITA Airways, said: “We are excited to dive into the synergies with the Lufthansa Group in the cargo sector. Thanks to the extensive Lufthansa Group fleet, combined with ITA Airways capacity, our customers will benefit from an enhanced service and a broader network, leveraging the destinations offered by the Group and exploiting the high potential of Fiumicino, our hub.“
ITA Airways’ fleet currently comprises 99 aircraft, including 22 long-haul aircraft of the type Airbus A350-900, Airbus A330-900neo and A330-200. ITA Airways flies to around 70 destinations around the world.
