Lufthansa Cargo Adds First Link to Detroit

Lufthansa Cargo inaugurated its first-ever flights between Frankfurt and Detroit/Michigan on January 23, 2012, supporting growing demand from the automotive and pharmaceutical industries in the US city. The German airline is offering a single weekly flight on the route, which is operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, but will add a second rotation from March. The service makes an additional stop in New York on the return leg

“The new freighter connection supplements the daily flights operated by Lufthansa passenger aircraft, and offers our customers more capacity and greater flexibility,” said Achim Martinka, Vice President The Americas, Lufthansa Cargo. “The automotive and pharmaceuticals industries, especially, are fueling the growing demand for fast and reliable trans-ports to and from Detroit.”

The new connection is the seventh US destination served by the cargo airline’s all-freighter aircraft, which are complemented by belly-hold capacity on the passenger fights of sister carrier Lufthansa to 17 points in the country.

“The Airport Authority is delighted to welcome Lufthansa Cargo to Detroit Metro Airport,” added Tom Naughton, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Wayne County Airport Authority. “Germany is Michigan’s second-largest trade partner, and we’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with Lufthansa’s passenger carrier for many years. The addition of dedicated freighter service to this market is a significant investment by Lufthansa in Detroit and strong step toward our region’s goal of developing a world-class Detroit Region Aerotropolis.”

In the last year Lufthansa Cargo transported around 1.9 million tonnes of freight and mail, up five per cent on 2010, after expanding its capacity during the period by 8.6 per cent following the integration of Austrian Airlines’ cargo activities and the expansion of its AeroLogic joint venture.