Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS WorldCargo, ANA and Nippon Cargo sign MoU on Japan-Europe cargo
Four carriers signed a memorandum of understanding setting out their intent to broaden air cargo cooperation between Japan and Europe, including a possible resumption of the Lufthansa Cargo-ANA cargo joint venture with SWISS WorldCargo and Nippon Cargo Airlines.
Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS WorldCargo, All Nippon Airways and Nippon Cargo Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding. The document sets out their intention to broaden air freight operations between Japan and Europe and to explore deeper integration of route networks and shared capacity. No timelines, volumes or detailed terms of the cooperation were disclosed.
The talks build on the cargo joint venture between Lufthansa Cargo and ANA, launched in 2014 and suspended in September 2023 following restructuring within ANA Holdings' cargo business. The current phase is described as an expansion of the earlier arrangement rather than a simple reinstatement, with SWISS WorldCargo and Nippon Cargo Airlines to be included.
The carriers plan to assess how their complementary route networks and specialised cargo capabilities could offer customers more routing options, flexibility and service choices. Executives of the four airlines — Ashwin Bhat of Lufthansa Cargo, Alain Chisari of SWISS WorldCargo, Kenichi Wakiya of ANA and Hiroyuki Homma of Nippon Cargo Airlines — stated their interest in developing the Japan-Europe offering.
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