Lufthansa Cargo delivered a strong financial performance in the first half of 2026, reporting significant year-on-year growth in both revenue and profitability.
Revenue rose by 16 per cent to €1.92 billion, up from €1.65 billion in the same period last year, while Adjusted EBIT increased by 47 per cent to €199 million, compared with €135 million in H1 2025. The Adjusted EBIT margin also improved by 2.2 percentage points to 10.4 per cent.
Capacity continued to expand during the period, with available cargo capacity reaching 7.21 billion freight tonne-kilometres, marking a 5 per cent increase. This growth was largely driven by additional bellyhold capacity, including the expanded marketing of cargo space on ITA Airways flights.
Demand kept pace with capacity growth, with traffic volumes rising 5 per cent to 4.6 billion freight tonne-kilometres. As a result, the average load factor edged up slightly by 0.2 percentage points to 63.8 per cent.
Gregor Schleussner, CFO and CHRO of Lufthansa Cargo, said the company’s performance was underpinned by strong market demand and robust business in Asia, alongside continued progress on its BOLD MOVES growth strategy.
He noted that the global air freight market remains highly volatile, shaped by geopolitical uncertainties, rising costs, shifting customer expectations, and intensifying competition. “Companies that want to succeed in the long term must be faster, more efficient, and more adaptable than their competitors,” he said.
Schleussner added that Lufthansa Cargo is focused on building a strong foundation for its next phase of growth, with a clear ambition to return to the world’s top three cargo airlines by 2030.
Frankfurt Hub Transformation Advances with LCCevo Milestone
A key milestone in Lufthansa Cargo’s long-term strategy was reached with the successful commissioning of the ALPHA phase of its LCCevo infrastructure project at the end of June.
This marks the first major step in transforming the Frankfurt cargo hub into one of Europe’s most advanced air cargo centres. The LCCevo project, backed by an investment of around €600 million, will enhance efficiency and handling capacity through advanced automation, including automated material handling systems, a high-bay warehouse, and specialised storage for temperature-sensitive goods.
The initiative forms the backbone of Lufthansa Cargo’s plan to develop the Lufthansa Cargo Centre into Europe’s most modern air cargo hub by 2030.
GlobeCross Launch Strengthens Cross-Border eCommerce Offering
In the second quarter of 2026, Lufthansa Cargo also streamlined its cross-border logistics operations by merging heyworld GmbH and CB Customs Broker GmbH into a new entity, GlobeCross GmbH.
GlobeCross combines digital eCommerce logistics solutions with comprehensive customs expertise, offering customers integrated end-to-end services for international trade. Its portfolio includes digital customs solutions, eCommerce import terminals at key hubs, and fully integrated logistics services linking transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery.