From flying crate to jumbo freighter: Logistics industry celebrates 100 years of air cargo in Germany
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From flying crate to jumbo freighter: Logistics industry
celebrates 100 years of air cargo in Germany
Lufthansa Cargo showcases MD-11 freighter in centenary livery
100 years of air cargo flight in Germany: The logistics industry is duly celebrating this
very special jubilee of its origins on its centennial anniversary. On 19 August 1911, a
single-engined Harlan took off from a grass strip in Berlin-Johannisthal carrying just cargo.
On board that first-ever cargo flight bound for Frankfurt on the Oder were the latest
issues of the Berliner Morgenpost daily.
Today, one hundred years since that first air cargo flight in Germany, airfreight is
indispensable for the transport of goods in the global economy. "Airfreight underpins
growth and drives our successful economy," observed Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Dr.
Christoph Franz. "For Germany especially, as the world's second biggest exporting
nation, a functioning and efficient air cargo industry is of existential importance."
Airfreighting has left an indelible mark on the history of Lufthansa. Luft Hansa, Lufthansa's
predecessor airline founded in 1926, set up a dedicated air cargo service only two years
after commencing flight operations. When the newly founded Lufthansa took to the skies
again in 1955, it was clear that the transportation of cargo alongside passenger flights
would significantly help shape the airline's future. In fact, cargo flights were introduced in
the airline's schedules on domestic routes already in 1956. In 1972, Lufthansa was the
first airline to begin service with the world's biggest cargo aircraft at the time – the Boeing
747F, soon to be named the jumbo freighter.
Airfreight has long since evolved into a successful global industry employing hundreds of
thousands of people. Germany's largest cargo carrier, Lufthansa Cargo itself has around
4,500 staff on the payroll, most of them stationed in Frankfurt. And the signs are still
pointing to growth: "We intend to leave our stamp on the international air cargo business
in the future and continue writing our success story," emphasised Lufthansa Cargo
Chairman & CEO Karl Ulrich Garnadt. The way ahead hinges, however, on the economic
and infrastructural environment in which the industry operate. "The threatened ban on
night flights at Germany's major airport in Frankfurt is just one example of the difficult
issues facing the airlines. If companies are to invest heavily in the infrastructure or
modern and efficient aircraft, however, they require planning security."
Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo are celebrating this year's centenary of air cargo at a
variety of events. Besides a logistics and mobility conference and a broad array of online
offerings at www.100yearsaircargo.com and http://www.facebook.com/100yearsaircargo
one of the airline's freighters is sporting special, eye-catching centenary livery. The MD-
11 freighter will be underway as the jubilee's flying ambassador transporting airfreight
around the world in Lufthansa Cargo's global network.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 69 696 – 2999
Fax: +49 69 696 – 95428
http://media.lufthansa.com
19.08.2011. » Slika- download Press Photo 100 years aircargo.JPG [551,32 KB]
