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Lufthansa Cargo reports cargo volume up over first nine months

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12-Oct-2011 Cargo carrier's tonnage increases by 8.4 per cent - Capacity utilisation at high levelAt the end of the third quarter, Lufthansa Cargo has posted a significant increase in the volume of freight and mail transported. From January to September the cargo carrier boosted tonnage by 8.4 per cent year-on-year.

Capacity was raised substantially, particularly in the first half-year. At the end of the nine-month period, capacity had been increased by 12.3 per cent. Since sales also grew sharply by 9.5 per cent, Lufthansa Cargo was able to achieve a high level of capacity utilisation. The cargo load factor in the first nine months was 69.3 per cent.

"Lufthansa Cargo is well positioned in an increasingly demanding market environment," noted Chairman and CEO Karl Ulrich Garnadt. "After the very strong growth rates in the first half-year, our transport performance in the third quarter stabilised at the very high prior-year level. Thanks to excellent product quality and our fast and flexible capacity management, we also succeeded in maintaining a high load factor in the third quarter."

In recent weeks, the market had become increasingly tough for the entire industry, Garnadt stressed. Growth, particularly in Asia, had been weaker than in the previous year. How strong demand would be this year during the high season in the fourth quarter was still uncertain, he added. "Demand-driven capacity management and a high degree of flexibility will therefore be the key to maintaining our successful course."

The financial results for the first nine months of the year will be announced on 27 October.