Airlines Modify Cargo Operations

Finnair Cargo has withdrawn its last remaining freighter operation, says the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA). Elsewhere, Lufthansa and Croatia Airlines extended their cooperation agreement.

Finnair Cargo has operated a Boeing B747-400F between Helsinki and Hong Kong since November 2004, in cooperation with Cargolux. Finnair held 50% of the capacity on the weekly service.

Cargolux ceased its Helsinki-Hong Kong freight run as a result of this arrangement. In August, Finnair's cargo traffic decreased by 11.5% year-on-year in terms of cargo tonnes carried. In terms of scheduled cargo traffic, volumes dropped by 11.2% in Asia, 9.4% in Europe and 9.9% in North Atlantic traffic. Cargo carried on chartered flights plummeted by 82.4%. Finnair Cargo indicated it might resume the Helsinki-Hong Kong service if warranted by market demand. In the meantime, Finnair Cargo says it can cover the lower demand with the cargo capacity of its parent company's passenger flights.

German freight operator Lufthansa Cargo and Croatia Airlines extended their agreement signed in 2007. Lufthansa Cargo took over cargo management for Croatia Airlines flights from Germany and other European cities to Croatia. The services include sales, handling and billing.

Croatia Airlines will continue to market capacities on its flights from Croatia itself. The carrier connects Zagreb with European destinations, including Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Brussels, Paris and London.