Dubbed “Cargo Needs the Night”, a new lobby group has been established in Germany with high-profile support from Lufthansa Cargo and major industry associations. They warned that Germany is losing its competitiveness and practicable night flight regulations in Germany must be crafted. These include the Association of German Freight Forwarders and Logistics Operators (DSLV), the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal (BGL), the Forwarding and Logistics Association of Hessen/Rheinland-Pfalz, the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG) and the Air Cargo Club Germany (ACD). “The logistics sector is the backbone of Germany’s export business. The basic prerequisite for its success in world markets is reliable, trouble-free air cargo connections. The Cargo Needs the Night initiative will therefore press hard for competitive operating hours at commercial airports in Germany,” the group said in a statement. Lufthansa Cargo CEO Carsten Spohr said: “The right of local residents living near the airport to be protected from unnecessary noise is not at issue. We accept our responsibility as an airline and we are investing massive sums in new technologies. At the same time, we are responsible for thousands of jobs in the logistics industry in Germany, which is an export and industrial nation. Germany is the world’s second-largest exporter thanks above all to its logistics expertise.”