Come the 2007 winter fl ight schedules, Lufthansa Cargo is discontinuing its freighter fl ights into and out of Cologne. Those services will instead be operated through Leipzig-Halle Airport from 28 October 2007. The freighter fl ights are being transferred in conjunction with the opening in Leipzig of the DHL Express Europe hub. In 2008, Leipzig is scheduled to become the DHL Express central hub in its European express network.

DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo have been jointly operating a route network between Europe, Asia and the USA with their Aerologic intercontinental joint venture since March 2004. Up to 27 October 2007, a major proportion of that network will still be run through Cologne but then be re-routed through Leipzig from 28 October.

Additionally, Lufthansa Cargo is operating three of its own freighter fl ights from Leipzig to Atlanta, Seoul and Istanbul. In future, Lufthansa Cargo will thus be serving Leipzig with 21 MD-11 fl ights weekly. Cologne will remain a DHL and Lufthansa Cargo base. But Lufthansa Cargo will only be offering capacity ex-Cologne in future for cargo carried in the bellies of Lufthansa passenger aircraft or by road feeder services.

As a result of the changed situation, 35 staff will be withdrawn from cargo handling in Cologne and assigned to posts at other Lufthansa Cargo locations.