Lufthansa is adjusting its freighter route network in response to corresponding demand for the 2023 summer flight schedule, which starts on 26 March.

The German airline said weekly frequencies to destinations in China served by Boeing 777F aircraft will be both increased and combined in routing. Lufthansa Cargo plans to offer 10 freighter flights per week to Shanghai (PVG) in the future. On two of these Shanghai connections, the airline will also fly to Chengdu (CTU), doubling its capacity there.

It also plans to increase weekly flights to Hong Kong (HKG) from five to six, with one reinstated stop in Almaty (ALA) in Kazakhstan.

Lufthansa Cargo’s current 2023 summer flight schedule includes a total of 79 weekly intercontinental connections. All long-haul destinations will be served from the international hub in Frankfurt by its fleet of 16 B777F aircraft.

“Looking at the Chinese market in particular, we are seeing an upturn in economic activity and thus also an increasing demand for reliable and quality transport solutions by airfreight for sensitive and high value goods,” said Ashwin Bhat, Lufthansa Cargo’s commercial chief.

In addition, Lufthansa Cargo also plans to expand the combined service from Frankfurt via Mumbai (BOM) to Hyderabad (HYD) to two flights per week. The airline said it will continue to offer B777F rotations to destinations in North and South America and on the route to Tel Aviv (TLV) in combination with Cairo (CAI) in the summer flight schedule.

Edits were made on the scheduled date in the first paragraph