JAL and Lufthansa to expand Code Share Tie-up with new Nagoya – Frankfurt Cargo Flight

At the end of September 2005, Japan Airlines (JAL) and Lufthansa Cargo AG (LCAG) will inaugurate a new cargo code share flight between Frankfurt airport and Chubu (Centrair) International Airport located near to Nagoya. The twice-weekly round-trip flight will be operated by LCAG using MD-11 freighter aircraft with a maximum payload of 95 tons.

The new flight will operate out of Centrair facilitating the transportation of cargo between Germany and the Chubu (Central Japan) Region. The Chubu Region is one of the principal production bases of the Japanese economy and the center of the Japanese automobile industry. Before Centrair opened in February 17, 2005, about 80% of goods manufactured in this region were transported internationally out of Narita and Kansai airports. Due to its convenient offshore location and 3,500 meter long runway, Centrair is able to provide a 24 hour cargo handling operation to air cargo freighters of any size. JAL is at present using Centrair for international cargo flights which serve Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and the U.S.A.

Cargo code share agreements have existed between JAL and Lufthansa since 1969. At present JAL and LCAG code share on cargo operations between Frankfurt and Narita, and Frankfurt and Osaka (Kansai) offering in total 12 flights per week. The addition of the new route will increases this code share network to three routes and 14 flights per week.

In order to improve supply capabilities and meet cargo demand in different countries, JAL has created code share agreements with six other partners in addition to LCAG: Northwest Airlines, SAS Cargo Group, Air France, British Airways, Singapore Airlines Cargo and China Eastern Airlines.

Both JAL and LCAG are also members of the WOW cargo alliance, which JAL joined in July 4, 2001. Together with the alliance’s other members - SAS Cargo Group and Singapore Airlines Cargo - the companies are working closely together in building an advanced worldwide air cargo logistics system. Preparations are underway in linking the individual products of each company, standardizing the transport quality, and integrating computer systems.

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