News / Lufthansa Cargo eyes top three air cargo spot with SWC volumes

© Alexandre Fagundes De Fagundes

Lufthansa Cargo aims to become one of the world’s top three cargo carriers  – an ambition driven by its closer integration with Swiss WorldCargo (SWC). 

The carrier has now filled in some of the details following its announcement yesterday of closer cooperation with its Swiss sister. 

“The need for action is clear: LCAG currently ranks among the top five cargo airlines worldwide,” a spokesperson told The Loadstar. “By joining forces with ITA and SWC, Lufthansa Group is positioned to move further up and secure a place among the global top three cargo carriers while providing a more seamless customer experience and serving our customers further improved services.” 

The carrier clarified how it saw the integration. 

“In July, Swiss WorldCargo entered Lufthansa Cargo’s and United Cargo’s joint business agreement, which allowed the airlines to cooperate in various areas, including sales, customer relations and networks between the United States and Europe.  

“With the newly formed alliance, a closer collaboration between the two organisations is initiated.  

“By aligning tools, harmonising processes, and KPIs, we leverage market presence, reduce duplicate work and inconsistent market approaches. This will relieve teams and free up capacity for more value-adding activities, and benefit the customer with a wider range of offers across the network.” 

The two airlines will also align their currently separate IT systems. The goal said the spokesperson was “to create more efficient and accelerated growth through joint IT systems, with gradual implementation per process and the specific systems”. 

Lufthansa Group separates its cargo results under its Logistics division, which includes subsidiary airlines’ cargo, such as that carried by Austrian, ITA and Brussels, as well as its Aerologic joint-venture and other cargo-focused companies such as Jettainer. However, SWC, which does not reveal its results, won’t be incorporated into this division. 

The spokesperson explained: “Governance principles are designed to ensure clarity and balance. This is based on the pre-condition that each company retains independent financial and legal responsibility, while domains and processes are steered jointly through defined roles.  

“Respective frameworks are currently being developed.” 

According to most datasets, which measure by CTKs, Lufthansa Cargo is only propelled into the top 10 by adding JV Aerologic’s volumes. SWC doesn’t reveal its CTK, but if LH’s analysis is correct, the combined volumes would need to be about 15bn CTK.  

FedEx was top in 2024, with 18bn CTK, followed by Qatar Airways Cargo and UPS on about 15bn, Emirates SkyCargo on 12.3bn and Atlas Air on 12bn.