Lufthansa Cargo extends services for temperature-sensitive freight

Lufthansa Cargo extends services for temperature-sensitive freight

Cargo carrier unveils the opticooler, the industry's most innovative cooling container

Lufthansa Cargo is now offering customers more options for the transport of temperature-sensitive airfreight. Adding a newcomer to its portfolio, the cargo carrier today presented the latest generation of cooling containers in Frankfurt. Developed jointly with the cargo equipment manufacturer Dokasch, the opticooler combines innovative technology with optimum reliability and maximum transport quality.

"Business with temperature-sensitive freight has grown strongly in defiance even of the global economic crisis in 2009," said Dr. Andreas Otto, Lufthansa Cargo Board Member Product and Sales, at the presentation of the new cooling container. "We aim to continue that growth trend and increase our market shares. We have for that very reason invested in new technologies." Lufthansa Cargo customers will profit from the new development, said Dr. Otto. "We have tailored the container to suit individual customer requirements. In that way, we guarantee fast and flexible service paired with topmost safety and reliability."

Transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo is a highly demanding operation for cargo airlines. With outside temperatures at airports they serve ranging from minus 30 to plus 40 degrees Celsius, they need to be equipped with containers in which temperatures fluctuate only marginally so as to avert any damage to sensitive freight. The new opticooler offers greater reliability than other models. Moreover, its range of applications is appreciably wider than that of classical cooling containers. Whereas the latter keep temperatures low with dry ice, the opticooler from Lufthansa Cargo works with innovative compressor technology and merely requires electricity. So it is ideal for transporting goods that must not come into contact with carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the new container makes it easier for Lufthansa Cargo customers to compile the complete documentation required by tougher regulations. The opticooler records the container temperature throughout the entire transport operation and makes that information available to customers on request.

Lufthansa Cargo completed the test phase with the innovative container in August. Opticoolers are now ready for use on all routes in the cargo carrier's global network.

Lufthansa Cargo AG
Lufthansa Cargo ranks among the world's leading cargo carriers. In the 2009 financial year, the airline transported around 1.5 million tonnes of freight and mail and clocked up 7.4 billion revenue tonne-kilometres. The Company currently employs about 4,500 people, worldwide. Lufthansa Cargo focuses on the airport-to-airport business. The cargo carrier serves some 330 destinations in more than 100 countries with its own fleet of freighters, the cargo capacities of Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines passenger aircraft, and an extensive road feeder service network. The bulk of the cargo business is routed through Frankfurt Airport. Lufthansa Cargo is a wholly owned Lufthansa subsidiary. In the 2009 financial year, it posted revenues totalling 1.9 billion euros.