Lufthansa Cargo AG - Cargo Carriers

Innovative processes reduce costs and benefit the environment

Lufthansa Cargos continues the expansion of its “eFreight” operations. The cargo carrier launched the first paperless airfreight shipment from Frankfurt in autumn 2008. Aside from simplifying processes in the airfreight business, “eFreight” also benefits the environment. Each year, the paperwork produced for air cargo could fill 80 Boeing 747-400 freighters. As lead carrier, Lufthansa Cargo is the principal motor driving the implementation of “eFreight” in Germany according to the standards of IATA. Since autumn 2008, 1,000 paperless shipments have been transported. “In that time, we have cooperated closely with airports as well as with officials at the Federal Finance Ministry and customs,” explains Lufthansa Cargo Vice President Global Handling Management Thilo Schäfer. The cargo carrier and its partners have already established e-freight in airfreight business routine at the airports of Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Paperless air cargo is to be expanded to all German stations in the Lufthansa Cargo network by the end of the year.

With shipments to Hong Kong, Singapore and Montreal, Lufthansa Cargo has now launched the international e-freight era from Dusseldorf. Together with the MBS Logistics forwarder, the cargo carrier in the Lufthansa Group transported shipments on three routes simultaneously. Among the cargo on board were garments and vessel couplings.

Paperless airfreight has many advantages, Thilo Schäfer emphasises: “Everyone profits increasingly from faster and more cost-efficient processes. Furthermore, less paperwork is good for the environment. “eFreight” is a paramount example of innovation in the airfreight industry.“