LUFTHANSA CARGO TO TAKE OVER SPANAIR CAPACITY

LUFTHANSA CARGO TO TAKE OVER SPANAIR CAPACITY

   Lufthansa Cargo, the freight unit of Lufthansa German Airlines, said it will take control over all of Spanair’s cargo capacity in November, giving Lufthansa added network coverage in southern Europe.

   The move follows a trend in Europe started by Swissair that has smaller combination carriers selling their cargo capacity to other more freight-focused airlines. Swissair’s cargo division, Swisscargo, manages the capacity of Belgian carrier Sabena, among others.

   The deal with Spanair, Spain’s second largest airline behind Iberia, marks Lufthansa’s first foray into third-party capacity management. Lufthansa Cargo has provided similar services to sister holiday airline Condor since 1993.

   Lufthansa Cargo will assume responsibility for sales, bookings, customer service, handling and accounting of all cargo carried by Spanair flights, including service from Madrid to Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Paris, Lisbon, Havana, Buenos Aires and Washington, D.C. Spanair operates 35 MD-80 aircraft and two B767-300s.