Lufthansa Cargo continued to pursue its Lufthansa Cargo 2020 programme.
Market Conditions
The most important traffic regions for Lufthansa Cargo are still Asia/Pacific and North and South America. In terms of total revenue, Germany and the rest of Europe still represent the most important sales markets, with a share of around 50 per cent.
Strategic Partnerships
Lufthansa Cargo again concentrated its efforts on developing the long-term relationships with its strategic partners in 2013. The Global Partner programme plays a vital role in this respect; Eleven Global Partners account for nearly 50% of Lufthansa Cargo's revenue. The programme aims to retain customers over the long term and for all partners to participate in the global growth of the airfreight market by integrating their operations in the best possible way.
Investment
The contraction of the airfreight business that began in 2012 continued in 2013. Average yields fell sharply, although freight volumes remained stable.
Lufthansa Cargo was one of the few cargo airlines worldwide to invest in new aircraft, modern technologies and its route network in 2013, despite the difficult economic conditions. The first two new Boeing 777 freighters have been in service on scheduled operations since late 2013. This puts Lufthansa Cargo in an even stronger position for the future. The modernisation of the fleet is just one of many projects in the "Lufthansa Cargo 2020" programme, with which Lufthansa Cargo aims to maintain and develop its position as a leading airfreight service provider. Altogether, the company expects to take delivery of five new B777 freighters by 2015, which will replace some of the current MD-11 cargo aircraft.
In 2013, Lufthansa Cargo concentrated on strengthening its position in North and South America. A new flight was scheduled to Lima in Peru, and the Mexican high-tech centre Guadalajara was included in the flight timetable for the first time.