The freighter's arrival inaugurates the first non-stop service from Frankfurt to Shenzhen, the Chinese metropolis and home of eleven million people. The city is situated in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, China's leading production and commercial centre.
On the flight from Shenzhen to Frankfurt, Jade Cargo International and Lufthansa Cargo are sharing the freighter's total capacity running to around 100 tons. Lufthansa Cargo will be marketing the flight's capacity ex Frankfurt to Shenzhen exclusively.
'Jade Cargo International is perfectly augmenting Lufthansa Cargo's network with its service into and out of Frankfurt. It will allow us to offer our customers even faster transit times, excellent quality, competitive rates and optimally coordinated flight schedules to the prospering Pearl River region in southeastern China,' observed Lufthansa Cargo CEO Carsten Spohr.
Jade Cargo International is already serving Barcelona, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Luxembourg, Brescia, Shanghai, Seoul and Osaka with its fleet of four 747-400ERF freighters. The Chinese cargo carrier is planning to add trans-Pacific connections to its flight schedules in autumn 2007.
Shenzhen Airlines owns 51% of Jade Cargo International, Lufthansa Cargo has a 25% stake and DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft a 24% shareholding in the Chinese carrier. Jade Cargo International is the first airline in China to be co-owned by foreign investors.
