Their new Vienna-based Austrian Lufthansa Cargo subsidiary has commenced operations. The new company is now marketing all freight capacities of both airlines in Austria. Freight activities in all other countries have been amalgamated under the management of Lufthansa Cargo.
Lufthansa Cargo Chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr expressed his satisfaction with the start of cooperation with the Austrian carrier: 'Through the successful integration of Austrian Cargo, our joint customers will profit from extensive connections in the eastern Europe growth region as well as access to the entire product portfolio and electronic booking channels of Lufthansa Cargo,'
said Spohr. 'Staff from both companies have worked hard on shaping cooperation between the two airlines in recent months. We intend to expand our position in Austria in the long term, increase our market share and strengthen the Vienna hub.' The airport shall become a centre of operations in future between eastern and western Europe.'
Right on time with the start of cooperation between Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo, the German cargo carrier has certified the station in Vienna as a security hub following a successful audit. Security Hubs are noted for rigorous security standards. Aside from security norms exceeding standard security regulations, they are subject to regular inspection. Over the past few years, Lufthansa Cargo has certified the stations at Frankfurt, Munich, New York, Chicago and Shanghai as security hubs.
With Lufthansa Cargo, paperless freight is also moving forward in Austria. The first eFreight shipment on a Lufthansa plane was transported from Vienna to Frankfurt and onward to Hong Kong in June. In early July, the first paperless freight on an Austrian Airlines jet was transported from Vienna to New York. Paperless freight is to be offered at all Austrian stations before the end of the year.
Since 1 July, Austrian Lufthansa Cargo, the new subsidiary set up by Lufthansa Cargo and Austrian Airlines, has been responsible for handling joint freight activities in the Austrian market and the expansion of Vienna Airport into a further hub in the network of Lufthansa Cargo. The local service offices in Graz, Salzburg and Linz will remain in place. The new subsidiary will optimise freight traffic flows through the Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna hubs, and bundle the strengths of both partners in the freight business. The global sales strength of Lufthansa Cargo combined with the country-wide presence of Austrian Airlines in Austria will make turn Austrian Lufthansa Cargo into a competent partner for the Austrian export industry. Managing Directors of Austrian Lufthansa Cargo GmbH are Franz Z'chbauer and Hasso Schmidt. Lufthansa Cargo has a 74 per-cent stake in the new company, Austrian Airlines holds 26 per cent. The company employs around 120 people.
