Frankfurt:Lufthansa Cargo and All Nippon Airways will launch a freight services joint venture between Europe and Japan to reduce costs in a tough cargo market, after gaining anti-trust approval in Japan. The airlines will cooperate on network planning, pricing, sales and handling by the end of this year in the first such cargo venture between two major global airlines, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday.
Cargo airlines have come under pressure as fast-growing passenger carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines use larger planes on more routes, allowing them to transport more cargo in the holds. Lufthansa Cargo, the freight arm of the German airline, said earlier this year it was hoping to agree a first partnership deal in 2014, with a second to follow in 2015.
