newstodate.aero
Sep 06, 2011 (newstodate): Lufthansa Cargo has seen a preliminary promising response to the launch of its new weekend freighter service from Lithuania to Frankfurt and onward to Mumbai, India.
The first flight took off from Kaunas Airport, Lithuania, on August 27, 2011 using Jade Air Cargo's Boeing 747-400F incoming flight with Chinese exports for markets in Central and Eastern Europe, managed by Hoptrans and Agility.
-Of course we are still in the early phase of this new service, but the response is promising both in the Baltic market and in Finland, says Mika Seppaelae, Lufthansa Cargo Country Manager Finland and Baltic States.
-The main assett for us is still the transfer options via Frankfurt Airport where shipments can be transferred unto flights to more than 300 Lufthansa Cargo destinations worldwide, but we are convinced that the opportunity to send shipments directly from Finland and the Baltic markets to Mumbai without unloading is a significant selling-point as well.
-The new service offers very short lead-times, compared to trucking from Finland and the Baltics to Frankfurt, but we consider the Kaunas-freighter an important complement to our existing services that include also our five times weekly Boeing 757-200F freighter service from Helsinki as well as trucking into Frankfurt Airport. We are thus capable of providing both main-deck capacity for large shipments as well as for other shipments that require fast uplift, as well as scheduled road feeder services for shipments that allow for a longer lead-time.
-I am convinced that will see an increase in our share of the Baltic markets especially, and also an even firmer grip on the Finnish market.
-Finnair Cargo remains an impressive competitor in Finland, but after all we are not competing in all segments, says Mr Seppaelae.
The Lufthansa Cargo freighter service offers Monday morning delivery from Kaunas and Frankfurt to consignees in the Indian market, but in the start-up phase only td.PRO shipments will be accepted.
At a later stage oversized cargo, BIGs, dangerous goods and other special cargo will be added.
All shipments delivered for uplift from Kaunas must be SPX, with security checks to be performed at either Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga or Vilnius.
The first flight took off from Kaunas Airport, Lithuania, on August 27, 2011 using Jade Air Cargo's Boeing 747-400F incoming flight with Chinese exports for markets in Central and Eastern Europe, managed by Hoptrans and Agility.
-Of course we are still in the early phase of this new service, but the response is promising both in the Baltic market and in Finland, says Mika Seppaelae, Lufthansa Cargo Country Manager Finland and Baltic States.
-The main assett for us is still the transfer options via Frankfurt Airport where shipments can be transferred unto flights to more than 300 Lufthansa Cargo destinations worldwide, but we are convinced that the opportunity to send shipments directly from Finland and the Baltic markets to Mumbai without unloading is a significant selling-point as well.
-The new service offers very short lead-times, compared to trucking from Finland and the Baltics to Frankfurt, but we consider the Kaunas-freighter an important complement to our existing services that include also our five times weekly Boeing 757-200F freighter service from Helsinki as well as trucking into Frankfurt Airport. We are thus capable of providing both main-deck capacity for large shipments as well as for other shipments that require fast uplift, as well as scheduled road feeder services for shipments that allow for a longer lead-time.
-I am convinced that will see an increase in our share of the Baltic markets especially, and also an even firmer grip on the Finnish market.
-Finnair Cargo remains an impressive competitor in Finland, but after all we are not competing in all segments, says Mr Seppaelae.
The Lufthansa Cargo freighter service offers Monday morning delivery from Kaunas and Frankfurt to consignees in the Indian market, but in the start-up phase only td.PRO shipments will be accepted.
At a later stage oversized cargo, BIGs, dangerous goods and other special cargo will be added.
All shipments delivered for uplift from Kaunas must be SPX, with security checks to be performed at either Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga or Vilnius.