Reports say that DHL andLufthansa Cargo are in thefinal stages of negotiating anew partnership to providelong-haul capacity for thecompany’s express services,which insiders believe will bemore extensive than DHL’srecent pact with Polar AirCargo.

Emirates SkyCargo, whichtogether with Cargolux andLufthansa Cargo was amongthe airlines, which participatedin the secret tenderprocess, declined to discussthe outcome of the tenderother than by saying that "you win some, you lose some."

Likewise, Lufthansa Cargoonly commented that theairline was in regular communicationswith DHL aboutdeveloping partnerships betweenthe two companies.

Meanwhile, details aboutthe proposed partnership remainsketchy other than oneindustry source describing itas "a massive deal".

It is understood that thenegotiations will take up toat least four months to concludethe deal.