Lufthansa Cargo (Germany) announces the world’s first cargo aircraft — a SWISS B777-300ER — modified with the fuel-saving AeroSHARK surface technology entered scheduled service in Frankfurt early this morning.

Lufthansa Cargo B777F D-ALFA Sharkskin Technology

 By: Oliver Rösler / Lufthansa Cargo

Lufthansa Cargo will begin equipping all Boeing 777 freighters with AeroSHARK from 2023. Innovative surface technology from Lufthansa Technik and BASF improves fuel efficiency and helps achieve sustainability goals.

Lufthansa Cargo's first AeroSHARK-modified Boeing 777 freighter, registered D-ALFA, took off for the first time at 05:07 (CET) on February 3, 2023. Under flight number LH8410, the B777F started from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bengaluru (BLR), from where it will fly on to Chengdu (CTU).

AeroSHARK is a surface film that mimics the microscopic structure of shark skin. Its structure consists of ribs around 50 micrometers in size - so-called riblets. If the flow pattern on the fuselage and engine nacelles of the Boeing 777F is optimized in this way, significant savings in fuel and thus emissions can be achieved. This modification, developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, will now gradually be used on Lufthansa Cargo's entire fleet of 777 freighters, making them more fuel-efficient and reducing emissions.

For the modified Boeing 777F, Lufthansa Technik expects fuel savings of slightly more than one percent. Extrapolated to Lufthansa Cargo's entire 777 fleet, this will result in annual savings of more than 4,000 metric tons of kerosene and nearly 13,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to about 53 individual cargo flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai.

"We are proud to be able to operate our entire freighter fleet even more efficiently in the future thanks to Sharkskin technology and to further reduce the carbon footprint of our modern fleet. Our investments for the introduction of AeroSHARK bring us closer to our goal of being 100 percent CO2-neutral in the air by 2050; on the ground, we would like to achieve this goal as early as 2030,” explains Dorothea von Boxberg, Chairwoman of the Executive Board and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.



In cooperation with BASF, Lufthansa Technik is responsible for the specification of the material, the airworthiness certification and the implementation of the aircraft modifications, which are carried out during regular maintenance layovers. In December of last year, the company obtained a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for two types of Boeing 777 from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), paving the way for the serial application now underway on the 777 freighter fleet.

Lufthansa Cargo begins A321P2F-operations

On 15 March 2022, Lufthansa Cargo has launched its A321P2F-operations, with D-AEUC (3504), flying from Frankfurt to Dublin and Manchester. Later, the carrier plans to also deploy the aircraft to Cairo, Istanbul, Malta, Tel Aviv and Tunis. A second A321P2F is planned to arrive later this year.

Lufthansa Cargo took delivery of the aircraft on 30 January after being converted at Singapore-Seletar. The duo of A321P2Fs are operated by Lufthansa CityLine and supports Lufthansa Cargo's expansion in the e-commerce market.

Photo by Lufthansa.

1st A321P2F for Lufthansa Cargo delivered

the first of two A321P2Fs for Lufthansa Cargo was delivered. On this date, D-AEUC (3504) arrived at Munich after a ferry flight from it's conversion at Singapore-Seletar. The flight had stops at Colombo, Muscat and Larnaca. The A321P2F is currently all white and is expected to enter commercial operations in the coming weeks.

The duo of A321P2Fs are leased via lessor BBAM and will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine to boost Lufthansa Cargo's European cargo-operations.

Photo by Lufthansa Cargo.

 

Lufthansa Cargo / B777-F1H / D-ALFJ / MSN: 35612

hokuden

Tokyo - Narita International (New Tokyo) (NRT / RJAA)

Lufthansa Cargo (Germany) fleet has grown by two B777Fs, serials 35612 and 67146, based in Frankfurt.

Photos: Lufthansa

 

Lufthansa Cargo orders an additional B777F

Lufthansa Cargo has announced it will add another B777F to its fleet. The brand new aircraft is expected to arrive before the end of this year. It will be the eleventh B777F in the Lufthansa Cargo-fleet.

Currently, the company operates nine B777Fs, the tenth, which the airline ordered in March, is due in October. Next to the eleven B777Fs, Lufthansa Cargo also has acces to four AeroLogic B777Fs. AeroLogic is a joint-venture between Lufthansa Cargo and DHL and has a fleet of eighteen B777Fs.

Lufthansa Cargo / B777-FBT / (D-ALFG)

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LAX, USA

Making horses and riders happy

Lufthansa Cargo will be adding 24 more horse containers to its existing portfolio for greater travel comfort

The more pleasant the flight is, the more relaxed you are when you arrive at your destination. This rule applies not only to people, but also to horses, which is why ensuring that transport is as stress-free as possible is the top priority of Lufthansa Cargos Live/td service. The freighter airline is working continuously to precisely adapt Live/td to the needs of their sensitive four-legged friends and constantly improve the service. These efforts include the latest investment: Lufthansa Cargo will be adding 24 more state-of-the-art horse containers to the existing portfolio by June 2016. In particular, they stand out from the crowd thanks to the light colors of the innovative plastic materials that are now installed in the top of the horse container. These materials provide better protection against heat and cold and minimize the risk of injury as compared with conventional aluminum. Stable, non-slip flooring guarantees optimal footing for the horses. Automatic roll-up covers at the front and rear makes handling easier for the grooms. With this service, you can be sure that the horses entrusted to your care arrive safely and comfortably at their destinations.
Lufthansa Cargo added the first 26 new containers to the Live/td service back in 2013. By adding more now for a total of 50, the freighter airline will be able to offer their customers the option of larger events or charter flights with Lufthansa Cargos own containers in the future.

Lufthansa cargo

Lufthansa Cargo welcomes fifth Boeing 777F in Frankfurt

Modernisation of fleet structure part of “Lufthansa Cargo 2020”.

The modernisation of Lufthansa Cargo’s fleet continues: On Thursday (12 February 2015), the fifth Boeing 777F of the cargo airline with the registration D-ALFE landed in Frankfurt for the first time at 9:51, local time. On a flight lasting approximately nine hours, the crew under chief pilot Claus Richter had transferred the Triple Seven safely from Everett near Seattle to its new home airport.

As part of its strategic program “Lufthansa Cargo 2020”, the freight airline has ordered a total of five new Triple Seven aircraft. In November 2013 the first machine entered regular service. In addition, Lufthansa Cargo has options for five further Boeing 777Fs with delivery to be split over the years until September 2020. “In our opinion, the Boeing Triple Seven is the best aircraft for our fleet structure. Its performance already far exceeded our expectations last year”, said Peter Gerber, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.

The Boeing 777F stands out for its ecological efficiency - thanks to state-of-the-art engines with low noise and fuel emissions - and is the most economical freighter of its class. Currently the freighters are being used mainly for scheduled operations between Europe and North America, and a daily flight to Shanghai is also on the agenda. Thanks to the new addition, there will also be B777F flights serving Hong Kong as of March.

The fifth Triple Seven will also have the special honour of connecting cities, countries and continents as an ambassador of Germany: “Hallo Germany” are the words on the fuselage of the brand-new aircraft. Lufthansa Cargo had staged a “Name the plane” online competition in 2013 asking people to find creative names for its entire fleet. The winning entry was the suggestion to greet the cargo airline’s most important destinations in the respective native languages. “Good Day, USA”, “Jambo Kenya”, “Ni Hao, China” and “Olá Brazil” are the greetings Lufthansa Cargo’s other Triple Seven freighters spread around the world every day.

LUFTHANSA CARGO - B777-200F - D-ALFA

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Lufthansa Cargo celebrates 20th birthday

Airfreight carrier has become Europe’s leading cargo airline over the past two decades

Europe’s leading cargo airline turns 20. On 30 November two decades ago Deutsche Lufthansa AG pooled its cargo activities in a separate company. This was the birth of Lufthansa Cargo. Airfreight had always been an important business for Lufthansa and its predecessor companies. But the significance of its cargo activities surged when it created an independent company. Not only did it integrate the cargo business of Deutsche Lufthansa but the cargo flights formerly performed first by German Cargo and later by Lufthansa Cargo Airlines GmbH became a major pillar of the business.

The team under Lufthansa Cargo’s first CEO, Wilhelm Althen, was therefore able to offer its customers all of the group’s freight capacities – be it on board its own freighters or on the cargo decks of passenger aircraft.

A few weeks after its official foundation Lufthansa Cargo started operating with a fleet of five McDonnell Douglas DC8 freighters, ten Boeing 747-200Fs and two Boeing 737 freighters in January 1995. 20 years later Lufthansa Cargo flies both with MD-11F and brand-new B777 freighters. The new jets with a maximum payload of 103 tonnes generate less noise and lower emissions, and are more economical than all other freighters of their class. Not only have the aircraft models changed over the years. Lufthansa Cargo is also a digital pioneer of the business. The cargo airline invests in cutting-edge IT and is pushing its goal of being digitally networked with all players of the logistics chain from booking to delivery by 2020.

“The foundation of Lufthansa Cargo as an independent company in the 1990s paved the way to a hitherto unheard-of professionalization of airfreight”, points out Peter Gerber, the current CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “Cargo went from by-product to core business that now accounts for almost ten per cent of sales of the Lufthansa Group.”

Lufthansa Cargo is well-prepared for the future with its strategy programme “Lufthansa Cargo 2020”. “We are shaping up Lufthansa Cargo for the future with the largest investment programme in our company’s history”, Peter Gerber underlines the significance of the strategy. Customers of the cargo airline will benefit from investments in new efficient aircraft, state-of-the-art IT, digital processes and, not least, in the most modern logistics centre of the air cargo industry.

Selected milestones in the history of Lufthansa Cargo:
November 1994
Lufthansa Cargo AG is founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa AG with an Executive Board consisting of Wilhelm Althen, Rainer Butz and Walter Gehl.

June 1998
The first MD-11F is delivered to Lufthansa Cargo.

March 2001
Round the world service: launch of first airfreight service around the globe with stops in Chicago, Honolulu, Auckland, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Sharjah, among others.

April 2008
Lufthansa Cargo opens Frankfurt Animal Lounge, the most advanced animal station at any airport in the world.

June 2009
Cargo airline AeroLogic, a subsidiary of DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, starts flight operations.
December 2011
New Lufthansa Cargo Cool Center opens in Frankfurt.

February 2013
Providing faster aid together: Lufthansa Cargo starts close cooperation with relief alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft.

November 2013
Frankfurt welcomes the first of five Boeing 777 freighters ordered by Lufthansa Cargo.

December 2014
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Lufthansa Cargo launch a strategic joint venture on routes between Japan and Europe

A flying stable

65 horses, 22 mobile stalls, one aircraft. Lufthansa Cargo flew this record-breaking number of quadrupeds from Frankfurt to the Iranian capital, Tehran, on a special flight on the 28 July at night. As the Boeing 777F with flight number LH8350 took off at 10:06 p.m. from Frankfurt, the entire main deck was taken up by horse containers. The modern freighter flown by Chief Pilot Claus Richter was in the air around four-and-a-half hours before safely landing in Tehran.

Hours before, the elegant stud and competition horses had checked in at Lufthansa Cargo’s Frankfurt Animal Lounge and then been accommodated in new horse containers specially designed for such transports. “The bright, friendly interiors make travel more comfortable and the horses are also more willing to enter the unfamiliar containers”, explained Axel Heitmann, who heads up the Frankfurt Animal Lounge. “The ‘sandwich floor' with two plates means these sensitive animals hardly feel the vibrations during loading. At the end of the day, we want our four-legged guests to enjoy the most comfortable transport experience possible.”

This flight was also something special for Christian Nagel, owner of Agricon-Logistic GmbH & Co. KG, the horse shipper responsible for the entire transport: “Even for us, as the market leader in horse transports to the Middle East, a charter flight with 65 horses is always a highlight in daily operations. We planned the transport meticulously with Lufthansa Cargo over several weeks.”

The experts from Agricon-Logistic and Lufthansa Cargo had to take numerous factors into account. The mares and stallions were kept separate so as not to cause unnecessary stress during the flight. The female animals were placed at the rear of the aircraft, while their male counterparts were kept to the fore of the deck.

Professional horse attendants from Agricon-Logistic and a vet also travelled on the flight to ensure the horses’ safety and comfort. The vet and care staff have access to their charges at all times during such a flight so as to replenish water and hay supplies and, of course, dole out affection. Lufthansa Cargo

 

Lufthansa Cargo: All eyes on Brazil

The eyes of the whole world are eagerly focused on Brazil at the moment. Excitement is high at Lufthansa Cargo as well, with Europe’s leading cargo airline christening its fourth Boeing 777F (registration D-ALFD) “Olá Brazil”. The brand-new aircraft safely landed at the carrier’s home base Frankfurt on Thursday morning for the very first time.

Lufthansa Cargo is emphasising its commitment to the South American country with this greeting. The cargo airline offers a high number of freighter flights to Brazil and also uses the capacities in the bellies of passenger flights.

By investing in five brand new Boeing 777Fs as part of the “Lufthansa Cargo 2020” future programme, the cargo airline is concentrating on modernisation and innovation. Each of the “Triple Seven” freighters can carry up to 103 tonnes of cargo for more than 9,000 km, equivalent to a non-stop flight from Frankfurt to Shanghai.

“We are delighted with the superb reliability and efficiency of the new 'Triple Seven’ aircraft”, said Dr. Karl-Rudolf Rupprecht, Board Member Operations of Lufthansa Cargo. “The B777F fleet is a world-champion when it comes to punctuality and has been a significant factor in quality enhancements achieved for our customers in recent months.”

The idea to give the aircraft the greeting “Olá Brazil” originated from the winning idea in a creative public competition held by Lufthansa Cargo to find a naming convention for its entire fleet in advance of the arrival of the first B777F in November 2013. From the more than 40,000 potential aircraft names, a jury with the involvement of the full Cargo Board opted for the central theme: “Say hello around the world”. The MD-11 freighters will also be christened with greetings in many country-specific languages over the months ahead

The last trip of the most senior Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 becomes an emotional event

The MD-11F called “Charlie Papa” set off on her last trip on 12 May, taking with her the best wishes and emotional goodbyes of the Lufthansa Cargo and LTMI employees. She flew for Lufthansa Cargo all over the world for the last ten of her 22 years. Previously, she had been operated as a passenger aircraft by Brazilian airline VARIG.

Andreas Grubert, Manager Engineering & Fleet Management (FRA F/OT-M), reminisced with a smile about her inspection in Singapore following her passenger-to-freighter conversion: “Charlie Papa caused problems following her conversion and we needed a whole seven test flights, rather than the usual one or two, to prove the aircraft’s CAT III capability. Besides two Boeing engineers, maybe the three Chinese lucky cats in the cockpit also helped in the end...”

It has been a bumpy start for a sometimes temperamental aircraft. Nevertheless, technical operations manager Ulrich Henze (FRA F/OT) looked back with mixed feelings on Charlie Papa as she stood in the LTMI hangar over recent weeks during final preparations: “On the one hand, we’ll no longer have these masses of little problems with this older machine. But it also hurts to see a fully functional aircraft being stripped down.”

It has been a real “Lovestorm” that Lufthansa Cargo witnessed on its Facebook page: over 170,000 fans viewed the post announcing the last flight, more than 2,200 gave her a final “Like” and more than 180 MD-11F-fans left comments wishing Charlie Papa all the best on her journey.

Following a final cargo flight to JFK/New York, the MD-11F landed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the premises of Lufthansa Technik Component Services on 12 May at 3:30 p.m. local time. After 83,887 flight hours and 15,090 cycles, she will now be disassembled there into her constituent parts as part of Lufthansa Technik's “2nd Life” programme. Following repair and recertification, the individual components will enjoy a second lease of life as spare parts.

As only 200 MD-11 were produced worldwide, Charlie Papa is a valuable organ donor just as was Charlie Oscar before her, who went to Tulsa in January. Withdrawing the MD-11F from service is also an important step for the further renewal of the Lufthansa Cargo fleet structure. 16 “Elves”, as pilots and technicians sometimes jokingly refer to the aircraft with the third engine, remain in the Cargo fleet. The fourth of a total of five ordered Boeing Triple Sevens, the D-ALFD, will be added in June. By using brand new Boeing 777Fs, Lufthansa Cargo is saving more than 18,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and aircraft

LUFTHANSA CARGO - MD-11F - D-ALCP

Lufthansa Cargo

Lufthansa Cargo delays decision on B777-F options by 13 months

Lufthansa Cargo has delayed a decision on whether or not to exercise one of its five B777-F options by 13 months the CEO and Chairman of Lufthansa Cargo, Karl Ulrich Garnadt told the Lufthansa group's annual press conference on Tuesday.
Reuters says the decision was originally due to have been made in the second half of this year.
Photo:Lufthansa Cargo

Delivery of Lufthansa Cargo's first B777F delayed over slats issue

 

 

Lufthansa Cargo has postponed the delivery of its first of five B777-Fs, D-ALFA (msn 41674), after an anomaly with the aircraft's slats was discovered during the handover ceremony from Boeing earlier in the week. The freighter was expected in Germany on November 1. "There's a very small gap between the slats and this is bigger than permitted by manufacturing tolerance," a Lufthansa spokesman told Reuters. The freight specialist says it does not expect the delay to last more than "a couple of days."

LUFTHANSA CARGO - MD11F, D-ALCC "celebrate 100 years of air cargo flight from Germany"

Ton Jochemens - FRA