One-year on from the start of their initial joint venture partnership, All Nippon Airways (ANA) Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo are kicking-off the expansion of their joint network between Europe and Japan by connecting further destinations in Japan. First to be added is Fukuoka on the main island Kyushu in southern Japan and later this will be followed by Sapporo on the north island.

Starting from December, ANA flights from Tokyo Haneda to Fukuoka Airport (FUK) can be booked via both partners’ booking systems. “Thanks to the Joint Venture we can connect the wide European network of Lufthansa Cargo, with the direct connections of both partners to Japan and the continental de-feeder flights of ANA”, says Carsten Wirths, area manager Europe and Africa, Lufthansa Cargo. Customers of both partners in Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain and Austria will benefit,” he added.

“Fukuoka and its region are important centres for the steel and automotive industries, as well as for semiconductor technology, electronics, environmental and biotechnology”, explains Yukata Terao, Project Manager Cooperations, ANA Cargo. “These are sectors which substantially profit from air freight.”

In December 2014, the cargo divisions of Lufthansa and ANA started their bilateral freight joint venture on flights from Japan to Europe. In August 2015, they expanded it to routes from Germany, France, Great Britain and Austria to Japan. Other destinations in European and Japan follow step-by-step.

The cooperation is characterised by high integration of systems and processes, combined network and joint distribution, as well as a co-location of handling operations at numerous stations. It provides customers with significant value such as an extended joint network, numerous flight combinations, more flexibility, time savings and aligned standards. Currently the cooperation covers express – and standard shipments. Th e inclusion of further products is planned, the joint venture partners said.