After around 120,000 trail runs on Lufthansa flights and six months of materials tests with the Suddeutsches Kunststoffzentrum Wuzberg, Lufthansa Cargo and Jettainer have successfully concluded a pilot scheme on the use of lightweight containers. During the test series, a total of 1,000 of the new-type composite containers were trailed in the global route networks of Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo. Construction of the containers from innovative and lighter composites instead of aluminium reduces their weight by 20%, lowering fuel burn and CO2 emissions appreciably. The new containers are made of glass fiber, Kevlar fiber or Dyneema sourced from different manufacturers.
'Lufthansa Cargo stands by its ecological commitment. By 2020, we aim to reduce our specific fuel consumption by 25%,' emphasized Lufthansa Cargo Chairman Carsten Spohr. 'The successful tests with lightweight containers constitute a significant step in that direction.'
The container tests were designed to transform an innovative idea into an industry standard. Another object of the trails was also to assess the handling quality characteristics and costs of lightweight containers.
