Cargo Strong Report From Lufthansa

     Lufthansa Cargo continued its long held traditional end of the year “Chimney Talk” as Dr. Andreas Otto held the attention of a room full of reporters Tuesday December 5, 2006 inside a castle in suburban Hoechst.
     One of the oldest fortified assemblies of houses, towers and moats in metropolitan Frankfurt, this exquisite venue has just about seen it all through centuries of German history while overlooking the river, no less.
     “Insider conversation” and a witty, no pressure presentation smoothly covered some otherwise serious concerns, including growing disparity in traffic flow on selected routes to and from China and India.
     Some of what was addressed in the presentation is outlined briefly here.
     Lufthansa Cargo is evaluating the impact of 170 freighter aircraft, mostly big ones that will be added to the world during the next five years.
     For its part, Lufthansa, contrary to earlier reports will fly the beautiful and economic MD 11 as long as possible maybe even 15, 20 or 25 years from now.
     The French and Dutch in air cargo have become some kind of European gigantomania with the Korean carriers, SIA and Cathay coming up fast.
     But LH Cargo has been growing faster than the industry during the past months and Dr. Otto indicates his determination to keep that momentum going.
     Herr Otto is impressed with numbers being generated by Christian Fink and Heide Enfield´s Cargo Charter Agency – and also in what Cargo Counts, the fast rising virtual airline is delivering to a growing group of carriers.
     Jade Cargo has positioned Lufthansa Cargo as the first western airline engaged in a meaningful Asian cargo joint venture.
     Maybe Jade management is somewhat “Deutsch” but the market insight knowledge of its Chinese partner makes the combination superb,.
     Jade is top notch, we heard.
     In the power-point session, Swiss is called “a cooperation.”
     “My foot,” somebody says.
     But as 2006 closes, Lufthansa Cargo can only tip its hat at SWISS Cargo yields, precision, reliability and customer ties.
     Dr. Andreas Otto declares:
     “We want to learn from Swiss and we will not touch their product line.”
     Dr. Otto’s presentation of course includes security.
     “We all know that a lot has been done.
     “That there are many activities and measurements still to be realized.”
     Not much new there, but security is struggling just to stay somewhere slightly ahead of the criminal mind therefore there will be even more effort and monies applied.
     Just before small groups of reporters moved toward the head table for further amplification, the concluding statement is that cargo is actually contributing a healthy portion to Lufthansa revenues and especially profits.
     The rising Lufthansa Cargo business tide lifts all spirits, even Yuletide!
     “Cargo is core business,” we are told, “changing and expanding at Lufthansa.”
     With the promise that even more will be revealed after the winter, sometime before the first crocus blooms during mid March, the night continued deep and cool and even.
GFM