Five shared routes between Europe, Asia and North America from summer 2004

Frankfurt/Brussels, February 11, 2004 / DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, and Lufthansa Cargo, world market leader in international air freight traffic, announced today joint operation on five international routes.  Both DHL and Lufthansa Cargo benefit from this long-term strategic cooperation. DHL and its customers profit from reduced transit times between the US, Asian and European markets. Lufthansa Cargo secures its base capacity utilisation in the long term and offers its customers new intercontinental connections.
 
“These new intercontinental routes will provide DHL customers with even greater connectivity and choice when shipping between the world’s three major continents,” said Uwe R. Doerken, CEO DHL Express. “This is another example of DHL growing with its customers  they told us they needed these routes and timings, and we’ve delivered them.”
 
“The intensified cooperation between the No 1 air freight carrier with the leading integrator brings attractive future prospects: our base capacity utilisation will be improved, our growth further enhanced and our customer can profit from an expanded network,” said Lufthansa Cargo Executive Board Chairman Jean-Peter Jansen.
 
The shared network will be operated by Lufthansa Cargo with MD11 freighters, both companies will share the available capacity.
 
The new deal further optimises DHL’s global network, as it links the DHL’s East Midlands, Cologne and Brussels hubs directly into intercontinental connections.  DHL and its customers will further benefit from guaranteed blocked space and improved departure times for these new flights.
 
The five new routes will be serviced each by four to five joint flights a week and are to be introduced from 28th March 2004 (the start of the summer flight schedule):

  • East Midlands – Cincinnati – East Midlands
  • Brussels – New York (JFK) – Brussels
  • Cologne – Bahrain – Singapore – Delhi – Cologne
  • East Midlands – Cologne – Hong Kong – Sharjah – Cologne – Bergamo – East Midlands
  • Cologne – East Midlands – New York (JFK) – Cologne (introduced July 2003)
The alliance is an extension of the current relationship between DHL and Lufthansa Cargo performed within the jointly owned Aerologic GmbH. It will create the biggest operational tie-up in the industry between the world market leader of air cargo and the leading international express and logistics company.
 
-Ends-
 
About DHL
DHL is the world's leading express and logistics company offering customers innovative and customised solutions from a single source. With global expertise in solutions, express, air and ocean freight and overland transport, DHL combines worldwide coverage with an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's harmonised international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. DHL continues to be at the forefront of technology and, with over 170,000 dedicated employees, guarantees fast and reliable services aimed at exceeding customers' expectations. Based in Brussels, Belgium, DHL is 100% owned by Deutsche Post World Net. 
 
About Lufthansa Cargo
With a transport volume of over 1.58 million tonnes of freight and mail shipments and 7.1 billion revenue tonne kilometres in 2003, Lufthansa Cargo is the world's Number One provider of international scheduled airfreight services and the leading developer of innovative air cargo products for its customers. The company currently has about 5,000 employees worldwide. Lufthansa Cargo's core activity is the airport-to-airport business. Its route network encompasses some 450 destinations. Lufthansa Cargo serves some of these direct with its own fleet of freighter aircraft and also uses the belly capacities of Lufthansa's passenger aircraft. Most of the cargo business is handled via Frankfurt Airport, Europe's largest freight hub. Lufthansa Cargo is a member of the WOW alliance, which it formed with Japan Airlines Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo and SAS Cargo.
 
You can find the presentation of the press conference as well as pictures on www.deutschepost.com/press and www.lufthansa-cargo.com/pressphotos. For more information, please contact:
 
DHL                                                                                         Lufthansa Cargo AG
Global Media Relations                                                             Corporate Communications
Patricia Thomson                                                                       Nils Haupt
Phone: +32 2 713 4864                                                             Phone: +49 69 696 91123
email: pressoffice@dhl.com                                                        email: nils.haupt@dlh.de
 
 

© Press Release 2004