Lufthansa Cargo CEO sees tough 2009

………….as the slump in demand for freight services — a bellwether of global trade activity — persists, the division's chief executive said.

"The 2009 business year will confront Lufthansa Cargo with the biggest challenge for many years," Carsten Spohr told a news conference on Thursday.

Air cargo companies have been buffeted by spending curbs by businesses looking for ways to weather the global economic crisis. Airport industry body ACI said in January air cargo traffic was likely to continue weakening in the next six months.