Lufthansa Cargo is currently making intensive preparations for the introduction of the new aircraft type into the fleet. Production of the first of the new freighters will commence at the Boeing plant at Everett near Seattle in the next few weeks. The first of Lufthansa Cargo’s pilots have, simultaneously, begun training for the type in the Triple Seven flight simulator.
“Top quality distances us clearly from the competition”
Sustained profitability is an essential prerequisite for successful implementation of the Lufthansa Cargo 2020 investment and strategy programme, noted Dr. Martin Schmitt, who assumed responsibility for Finance and Human Resources on the Lufthansa Cargo Executive Board in January 2013: “We will, therefore, continue to work hard on improving our earnings and our cost base.” The Group-wide SCORE programme will especially drive us forward in that direction, said Dr. Schmitt. Its aim is to raise earnings sustainably by 70 million euros compared to 2011 by 2015.
A positive contribution also came in 2012 from Lufthansa Cargo’s equity stakes, for example, in the Jettainer global ULD management company or the successful joint venture in the PACTL air freight terminal in Shanghai. The Lufthansa Cargo Charter Agency, which took over charter business in 2001, is to be integrated in Lufthansa Cargo AG in April this year. The new structure will make the organization leaner and, simultaneously, capable in future of delivering fast and flexible charter solutions.
Positive Outlook for 2013
In the wake of the global decline in demand in 2012, Lufthansa Cargo is anticipating a more positive trend in the air freight markets in 2013. A perceptible recovery in demand is expected at the latest in the second half-year. In this market environment, Lufthansa Cargo will continue to steer capacity in accordance with demand so as to stabilise utilisation and average yields. The Company is likely to increase capacity marginally in the single-digit percentage range in comparison with the previous year. It is expecting operating profits to be in the region of three-digit millions again in 2013 and higher than in the previous year. Fleet renewal is also furthering the ambitious quality objectives of Lufthansa Cargo. “Sustainable quality improvement enjoys the utmost priority, since it distances us clearly from the competition,” observed Chairman Karl Ulrich Garnadt. In order to realize that aim, Germany’s biggest cargo carrier has initiated a broad quality offensive. Already in 2012, the airline vastly improved key quality parameters, such as on-time performance: Its MD-11F fleet is currently the most punctual of its kind in the world. That is reflected in customer satisfaction, which reached an all-time high in 2012.