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Verhasselt: EU e-commerce fee to cause brief dip only

Heiner Siegmund
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Verhasselt: EU e-commerce fee to cause brief dip only

Since 01JUL26, the EU levies customs duties of at least EUR 3 per shipment on goods valued at less than EUR 150. This primarily affects e-tailers such as Temu, Shein, and others. The fees are intended to reduce the flood of small shipments coming in from online traders. Authorities have found it increasingly difficult to monitor and handle this tsunami of small parcels.

Veteran Steven Verhasselt is familiar with every aspect of the air cargo industry – photo: CFG/hs

In addition, there are concerns about the many products containing ingredients that pose a health risk, particularly to children, or violations of EU safety regulations, as revealed by a multitude of inspections. Above all, customs authorities do not have sufficient staff to fulfill the task day in, day out. CargoForwarder Global (CFG) asked air freight and logistics expert, Steven Verhasselt (SV) of the Belgium-based consultancy, FB Cargo Strategy about the foreseeable implications this step will have for consumers, airports, e-tailers and the supply chain. He expects the dip will only be a short-term one and the industry adjusts.

CFG: Steven, based on your expertise as a cargo veteran: Is the EU’s decision a smart move or more of a symbolic gesture?

SV: It all depends on the target and the objective of this decision. Economies of scale are not solved by taxing the end users. Adding taxes only consolidates the advantages of the big players and throws up more barriers for new entrants or suppliers arriving late to the party.

If the objective would be to generate more revenue streams for governments, it is a smart move. I propose these are reinjected into resources for customs and systems to improve their efficiency and allow local service suppliers to create added value and jobs on the end customer markets.

CFG: Who will pay the customs duty: the online retailers or the consumers? Should the e-tailers increase the price of their goods by the fees charged by EU customs?

SV: Taxes are always paid by those at the end of the line. They will be absorbed partially over the production and logistics chain, but they will be paid by the end consumers. You can draw a comparison with other heavily taxed goods like fuel, cigarettes and alcohol.

CFG: Are the national customs authorities in EU countries technically (digitally), organizationally, and in terms of staffing, prepared for the upcoming changes? Or could there be delays at airports in the customs clearance processes for e-commerce micro-shipments starting in July 2026?

SV: The strength of a general EU rules lies, of course, in the uniform implementation of it throughout the different state members. The uncertainty concerning the legislation, the implementation and the technical requirements have made it very difficult for the cargo community to prepare for this. In cargo focused airports, the customs departments are very important members of the service community. I can only admire the hard work and flexibility of the services to be ready for this. Given the importance of streamlined processes, and the lack of information and time, one can only hope it all goes right and offers all the support needed.

CFG: If the price increases by EUR 3 per item or even more, and customers have to bear the additional costs, e-commerce volumes could decline. This would primarily affect airports such as Liège or Budapest, where e-commerce plays a dominant role. Do you anticipate this scenario affecting supply chains and air traffic?

SV: I don’t believe the EUR 3 per item, nor abandoning the de minimis rules, will have a long term effect on e-commerce volumes. There will be a short-term dip, to overcome the time needed to adjust the processes and streamline the flows. July and August are soft months anyway. That gives the cargo communities on both ends time to be ready when demand picks up again towards Q4 of the year. There might be a shift towards longer logistics chains, putting pressure on air freight, but I always believe air freight will prevail as we sell time savings, and time drives e-commerce as well.

CFG: Among others, you advise Pittsburgh (PIT), Ostend/Bruges (OST) and some other airports in cargo matters, with OST having just developed an e-commerce strategy. What should OST’s management focus on, in particular, to ensure that the flow of low-cost e-commerce commodities continues to run smoothly under the new EU customs regulations, including the fast forwarding of imported goods to end customers?

SV: Every airport in the world, advised by me or not, should always focus on infrastructure and processes to transform from a destination into a logistics platform. The airport is there to enable the cargo community to complete the door-to-door logistics operations in a cost efficient and guaranteed time defined way. How to do that depends on many factors, airport specific, national legislation specific. Putting that in place in OST, PIT, BKK and many others is what keeps us busy at www.fbcargos.com Happy to look into that as soon as the World Cup has come to an end!

CFG: Steven, thank you for your time and input.

Day of the DAWB – and an EU customs duty

Brigitte Gledhill
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Day of the DAWB – and an EU customs duty

01JUL26 saw two unrelated regulatory shifts come into effect on the same day, affecting the air cargo and e-commerce logistics industries, and causing consternation and challenges for freight forwarders. One reshapes the contractual backbone of air freight documentation, the other rewrites the economics of low-value e-commerce imports into the European Union.

More work, hassle, confusion, fees and potential pitfalls. Image: Canva AI generation/CFG

The first shift concerns the IATA Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework – the standard documentation used across much of the air cargo industry. Amendments to that framework were adopted by IATA’s Cargo Agency Conference under an expedited procedure, with implementation set for 01JUL26.

The trouble is that the normal safeguards around such changes appear to have been bypassed. FIATA, the global freight forwarding federation, had exercised its formal right under the Cargo Agency Conference (CAC) Resolution 801c to request a review of the decision and postpone the effective date to 01OCT26, accordingly. Yet, the IATA-FIATA Consultative Council did not convene in time to make a recommendation back to the Cargo Agency Conference, despite repeated requests. Thus, the amendments went ahead as scheduled. FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber, emphasized: “The review mechanism exists for an important reason: to ensure that significant changes affecting the rights, responsibilities and liabilities of all affected market players – including freight forwarders, shippers and airlines – are properly considered before they take effect. That critical procedural safeguard has not been respected before the scheduled implementation date. In the absence of a meaningful review, airlines should provide complete transparency regarding the contractual framework they intend to apply from 01JUL26. Freight forwarders cannot reasonably be expected to assume significant new contractual obligations or liabilities outside of their function without legal certainty or a proper opportunity to assess the resulting operational and insurance implications.”

FIATA and AfA unhappy with IATA

The Airforwarders Association in the U.S. echoed FIATA’s request for clarity from the other side of The Pond. Its concern is concrete: the revised framework could shift liability for cargo misdeclaration, hidden dangerous goods, or packaging failures away from the shipper – the party actually creating the risk – and onto the forwarder, an intermediary whose day-to-day role has not changed. AfA’s Executive Director, Brandon Fried, framed the core objection simply — forwarders shouldn’t be on the hook for cargo they don’t own, pack, or control. He warned: “Businesses should not assume their existing cover will automatically respond if contractual liability changes. Smaller and medium sized freight forwarders, in particular, should carefully review both their contractual position and insurance arrangements before accepting shipments under the revised framework [as the changes potentially create] significant legal, operational, and insurance consequences for freight forwarders. Forwarder liability insurance is designed around the services freight forwarders actually perform, not around assuming shipper obligations.”

IATA’s guidance leaves much to be desired

Compounding the confusion, IATA’s own guidance points forwarders towards a patchwork solution – engaging bilaterally with individual airlines to clarify what contractual terms will actually apply before cargo is accepted, and noting that shippers can still appoint forwarders as agents and negotiate to keep existing DAWB arrangements in place carrier by carrier. In other words, there is no single, industry-wide answer to “what are the new rules?” – only an instruction to go and ask each airline separately.

That advice has proven necessary in practice. Early signals suggest airlines are not moving in lockstep: some carriers reportedly have no intention of applying the revised framework from 01JUL26, while others are proceeding. FIATA has written to airlines worldwide seeking confirmation of their intentions and how, practically, the new framework will be applied to shipments. AfA’s Fried also warns: “The possibility that all airlines may not implement these changes in the same way creates unnecessary confusion at a time when the industry needs clarity. We strongly encourage freight forwarders to seek written confirmation from every airline regarding the contractual framework being applied, rather than assuming a consistent approach across the market.”

The inconsistency between carriers is itself part of the problem. A forwarder working across multiple airline networks may now be operating under different liability regimes depending on which carrier is used for a given shipment – precisely the kind of fragmentation that undermines confidence in a documentation standard that is not, in fact, standard.

And now: the EU change on low-value imports

The second change that came into effect on 01JUL26, was the European Union’s abolishment of the long-standing customs duty relief for imported goods valued at EUR 150 or less. In its place is a temporary flat-rate customs duty of EUR 3, intended to remain in force until 01JUL28, when a broader customs framework – built around the EU Customs Reform Package and a future EU Customs Data Hub – is expected to take over. The EUR 3 charge mainly applies to B2C e-commerce: goods bought remotely, often through online marketplaces, and sent directly from outside the EU to a consumer inside it – and regardless of how import VAT is handled, though there are certain exceptions. Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under a free trade agreement or customs union continue to receive that treatment instead, and other existing customs duty provisions outside the new mechanism remain unaffected.

The calculation method matters for anyone handling volume, as the EUR 3 is charged per line on the customs declaration, with identical goods under the same tariff code generally consolidated onto one line. In other words: a parcel of five identical t-shirts under one commodity code draws a single EUR 3 charge, while a parcel containing a t-shirt, headphones, and cosmetics – three different codes – draws EUR 9. Accurate tariff classification can therefore become a direct cost driver – though who eventually pays the charge depends on individual agreements between importers, marketplaces, logistics providers and end customers.

The EU’s stated rationale is to close a gap that had reportedly been exploited through undervaluation and outright customs fraud, to level the playing field between EU and non-EU sellers, and to strengthen consumer protection while the fuller reform package is built out.

How are freight forwarders affected?

For forwarders and customs representatives active in cross-border e-commerce, the customs change brings a list of to-dos from reviewing representation arrangements so customers understand the new charging structure, to tightening up tariff classification given its direct link to cost, checking that declaration systems can handle the per-line calculation, and revisiting comprehensive guarantees and deferred payment arrangements since higher duty volumes can affect the reference amount those guarantees are based on. Contracts with importers, marketplaces and supply chain partners will likely need updating to reflect the new charge, and forwarders should brace for a rise in customer queries about why import costs have changed.

And there are more changes to come in the EU’s bid for modernized e-commerce regulations. Mandatory Product Identifiers for qualifying low-value e-commerce imports will arrive from 01NOV26, meaning IT and declaration systems face a second adjustment on the horizon before the transitional customs duty itself is expected to give way to the full reform package in 2028.

The common thread

What links the two developments isn’t subject matter – one is a contractual documentation standard, the other a fee mechanism – but timing and effect. Both took hold on 01JUL26 without the settled clarity forwarders would normally expect from a change of this scale. On the DAWB side, a review process that was meant to test the amendments before they took effect was overtaken by the implementation date itself, leaving forwarders to individually chase down each airline’s position. On the customs side, the mechanics are clearer on paper, but the operational load – tariff accuracy, guarantee reviews, contract updates, system changes – has all come at the same time, with more change already scheduled for November.

CMA CGM acquires FedEx Supply Chain unit

Heiner Siegmund
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CMA CGM acquires FedEx Supply Chain unit

Marseille, France-based shipping mammoth, CMA CGM has announced to buy FedEx’s third-party logistics business for USD 1.4 billion in cash. FedEx Supply Chain manages warehousing, distribution, fulfillment services and transportation solutions for clients. CMA CGM plans to integrate the FedEx unit into CEVA Logistics, its logistics arm. Once accomplished, CEVA would nearly triple its size in North America.

FedEx Supply Chain employees are expected to start wearing CEVA workwear soon  –  courtesy of FedEx.

FedEx Supply Chain is a logistics heavyweight. It runs more than 130 distribution centers covering over 40 million square feet of managed space, with two-day fulfillment reach to 96% of the U.S. population. Its services span reverse logistics, transportation management, customs brokerage, warehousing and contract manufacturing; capabilities that will now be run by CEVA, a leading global supply chain solutions provider and a unit of the world’s third largest container shipping group.

Major investments on the horizon
CMA CGM has recently diversified its business well beyond ocean shipping, building out positions in logistics services, port infrastructure, air freight, and media. At a White House event last year, CEO Rodolphe Saadé announced a commitment to channel USD 20 billion into American maritime infrastructure, logistics networks, and terminal development over a four-year period.

Hence, the FedEx deal is in line with CMA CGM’s strategic plans and Saad’s drive to transform the privately owned French box carrier from a pure-play ocean shipping company into a diversified logistics group.

Focusing on parcel delivery activities
From FedEx’s perspective the deal documents its efforts to concentrate on its core package delivery services. To sharpen that focus, FedEx has merged its ground and air delivery networks and pursued an aggressive cost-reduction program. On 01JUN26, the company completed the separation of its trucking division, FedEx Freight, listing it as a standalone publicly traded company. FedEx Freight paid a cash dividend of approximately USD 4.1 billion back to FedEx Corporation, Reuters reports.

Alongside the acquisition, the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the two companies are expected to announce freight-forwarding partnerships that would pair FedEx’s air cargo network with CMA CGM’s container shipping scale.

The relationship will be deepened
However, the collaboration between the two companies seems to be going much further. There are strong indications that CMA CGM and FedEx are about to finalize negotiations on a multi-year commercial arrangement aimed at joining forces in air and ocean freight matters, with the French box liner becoming FedEx’s preferred ocean carrier.

The companies will also work together on special air cargo capacity solutions to enhance their respective global networks in the interest of higher aircraft utilization and flexible long-haul capacity.

It remains to be seen whether the intensifying business relationship between the Franco-U.S. duo will also have an impact on CMA CGM Air Cargo, the shipping line’s air freight subsidiary. Its main base is Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Incidentally; CDG is also FedEx Express’ busiest European hub and the company’s second largest worldwide, after Memphis, Tennessee.

Rockford and DSV launch weekly LUX-RFD service

Brigitte Gledhill
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Rockford and DSV launch weekly LUX-RFD service

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is deepening its relationship with logistics company DSV through a newly launched weekly cargo route from Luxembourg (LUX). The announcement was made at Air Cargo China in Shanghai on 25JUN26. The Luxembourg route adds to DSV’s existing weekly freight connection between Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Rockford, which started in NOV25 as part of DSV’s Shanghai Star Air Freight Charter program. These two strong routes (LUX is an important pharma gateway for DSV – CFG reported) are indicative of Rockford’s growing importance as a cargo hub bridging Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with the airport offering onward distribution across North, Central, and South America. And there may be more to come as DSV is considering a South Korean service between Rockford and Incheon International Airport (ICN) to come later this year.

From l > r: Eric Tian, Sen. Manager – DSV / Kelvin Sun, Sen. Director – Airfreight, DSV / Alexander Korte, VP Air and Sea, DSV / Stefan Krikken, Head of Air Freight – Global, DSV / Zack Oakley, Exect. Director, RFD /  Rene Espinet, VP – Cargo Business Dvlpmt /  André Morrall, EMEA Sales Rep.  –  Image: Meantime Communications

Zack Oakley, Executive Director of RFD, underlined: “This expansion demonstrates the strength of our partnership with DSV, and reinforces Rockford’s position as a premier cargo gateway for international trade. Rockford offers a unique value proposition for logistics providers through our dedicated, uncongested, 24/7 cargo operations, and we are proud to leverage this in support of DSV’s expanding network.”

Stefan Krikken, Head of Airfreight – Global at DSV, explained: “Rockford has proven itself to be a valued partner through its dedicated cargo focus, reliable infrastructure, and operational consistency. The success of our Shanghai operation highlighted the strategic value of Rockford, and we have plans to further benefit from the airport’s flexibility, fast transit times, and dependable access to key markets.”

Awery gains first Chinese GSSA customer on CargoBooking

Brigitte Gledhill
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Awery gains first Chinese GSSA customer on CargoBooking

The Air Cargo Shanghai was the perfect backdrop for Awery Aviation Software (Awery)’s historic moment. Signing the CargoBooking contract with Oriental Sky Aviation (Oriental Sky) last week, signified the first step into the Chinese market. Oriental Sky is the first Chinese GSSA now on the CargoBooking platform, sharing its airline portfolio to global freight forwarders so that they can request quotes and make bookings. The GSSA represents 20 airlines across 14 countries and 21 locations, for which it provides total cargo management, along with charter operations, interline services, and a range of value-added solutions. Oriental Sky is no stranger to Awery, as it adopted Awery’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system back in 2022, to steer its GSSA and charter services. The digital expansion to joining Awery’s CargoBooking, means faster communication exchange with freight forwarders looking to access Oriental Sky’s airline capacity and services.

Vitaly Smilianets and Rush Wang shake hands on the partnership. Image: AWERY

Vitaly Smilianets, Founder and CEO, Awery, commented: “We are looking forward to expanding our relationship with Oriental Sky by bringing its capacity to CargoBooking, following the successful implementation of our ERP platform across its business. China is one of the world’s most digitally advanced air cargo markets, and Oriental Sky’s decision to join the platform reflects the strength and competitiveness of the technology we continue to develop for the industry. Welcoming our first Chinese GSSA onto CargoBooking is an important milestone, and we are particularly pleased to announce this partnership here in Shanghai.”

Rush Wang, Founder and President, Oriental Sky, stated: “Digitalization remains a key priority across all areas of our business as we continue to enhance the services we provide to airline partners and customers. Having worked with Awery for a number of years, we have seen first-hand the benefits that its technology can bring to our operations. Joining CargoBooking was therefore a natural next step, enabling us to further improve accessibility to our network while supporting greater efficiency for our customers.”

TIACA publishes Air Cargo Forum dates for Abu Dhabi

Brigitte Gledhill
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TIACA publishes Air Cargo Forum dates for Abu Dhabi

One can but hope that the world will be a better place in a year and a half from now, given the tenuous peace talks/ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Certainly, TIACA has taken an optimistic stance and will be returning to the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, as planned in 2027. The first event was successfully held there in 2025, following the launch of the alternating MIA and AUH locations, CFG reported. TIACA recently published the dates for the second Air Cargo Forum in Abu Dhabi, which are 09-11NOV27. So, pencil them in – along with the dates of the Executive Summit 2027 (which attracts mainly senior leaders in the industry and is forecast to be the largest Executive Summit to date), which will take place in Singapore next summer: 21-23JUN27.

Coming back to the Air Cargo Forum – it will once again be hosted by Etihad Cargo, and organized by TIACA and MGME, supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. As with all TIACA events, the ACF 2027 will bring together industry leaders and topic experts, offer a variety of panel discussions and key notes, as well as an exhibition area and networking opportunities throughout. It will be interesting to see what the surrounding program will be, this time around.

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA, said: “The enthusiastic response to our first Air Cargo Forum in Abu Dhabi confirmed the importance of establishing a strong and consistent presence in the Middle East. Returning to Etihad Arena in 2027 allows us to continue building momentum, strengthening global connections, and providing the industry with a powerful platform to collaborate on innovation, sustainability, and resilience across the air cargo supply chain, and of course, we look forward to once again welcoming delegates to the iconic Beach Party celebration and the roller coasters of Ferrari world.”

Roos Bakker, Chair, TIACA, commented: “TIACA is committed to ensuring the Air Cargo Forum delivers meaningful value to the global air cargo community. Abu Dhabi offers an exceptional environment for industry leaders to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and explore solutions that support a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future for air logistics. We are excited to once again welcome the industry to Abu Dhabi.”

CARGOLAND is gearing up for the EC CBEC 2026

Brigitte Gledhill
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CARGOLAND is gearing up for the EC CBEC 2026

The EU Cross-Border e-Commerce Forum (EU CBEC) 2026 – Europe’s largest annual cargo and e-commerce event, will soon be taking place: 08-10SEP26, to be precise – at the Palais de Congrès in Liège. Organized by Liège Airport (LGG)/CARGOLAND, the forum brings together professionals from logistics, customs, retail, technology, supply chain and air cargo. 17 panels and sessions are lined up for the three days of the event, covering topics such as AI, digitalization, customs reform, regulatory compliance, consumer expectations and international trade. Discussions will also focus on how freight forwarders can balance efficiency and growth in an increasingly unstable market, and the opportunities CARGOLAND offers as a dedicated cargo and e-commerce gateway. Alongside the conference program, a dedicated exhibition area and networking spaces allow attendees to explore new technologies and build business partnerships.

The countdown is on for Europe’s largest e-commerce event. Image: CARGOLAND

“This year’s motto, ‘Freight meets Magic’, will set the tone from the cocktail welcome reception, which will launch the networking program, through to the Gala Dinner, where a number of surprises are planned. The LAB Area will also bring this theme to life, showcasing smart technologies and operational solutions for e-commerce and air cargo. Driven by innovation, EU CBEC stands as a hotbed of ideas, expertise and growing industry experience,” the press release emphasizes.

Frederic Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics at Liège Airport, revealed: “This is already promising to be the biggest EU CBEC forum to date as we have now passed the 1,000-mark in registered attendees for the first time ever. Among them are over 300 companies including 60 different airlines, more than 100 freight forwarders, 15 media outlets and a great many shippers from various industries. Everyone who is anyone in the world of e-commerce and air cargo, will be there, and that includes an amazing line-up of speakers such as Stanislas Brun, Ryan Keyrouse, Peter Scholten, Justus Klever-Schlodtfeldt, Roos Bakker, Jannie Davel, Jonathan Clark, Alain Guerin, Jeffrey van Haeften, Amit Tendon, Asok Kumar, and Kristian Vanderwaeren, to name but a few. In total, we’re looking forward to welcoming 53 speakers who will be discussing e-commerce from every relevant angle.”

Breeze introduces Quote AI Autofill as admin support tool

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
Breeze introduces Quote AI Autofill as admin support tool
Eyal Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer, Breeze. Image: Breeze

London-based embedded cargo insurance platform, Breeze has brought an AI tool to the market, that supports in solving a long-standing industry pain point – this time in the ocean freight industry: filling out cargo insurance quote forms for users to review and approve. ‘Quote AI Autofill’ brings automation to a process that has long relied on manual data entry in the freight industry. The tool addresses a persistent gap: around 70% of cargo travels uninsured or underinsured, partly because outdated workflows make it cumbersome for freight forwarders to offer coverage as a standard service. That process is now set to gain from artificial intelligence, as users can upload or paste documents they already have – such as bills of lading, commercial invoices, booking confirmations, or even email threads – and Breeze’s AI automatically extracts and populates key quote fields, including commodity type, cargo value, Incoterms, route, and vessel details.

Crucially, every AI-completed field is clearly flagged and editable so that no quote is submitted without explicit user approval. This keeps humans in control while eliminating repetitive data entry. The launch reflects a broader shift in freight tech toward embedding financial services directly into operational workflows, rather than treating them as separate steps. It also signals growing industry recognition that marine insurance infrastructure needs to catch up with how modern global trade actually moves.

Eyal Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer, Breeze, explained: “Forwarders are working in a market shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and pressure on margins, yet too much of the insurance process still depends on copying information from one document to another. Quote AI Autofill is designed to remove repetitive manual tasks, speed up quotes, and keep the user fully in control.”

TCE and Air Transat sign and expand contract renewal

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
TCE and Air Transat sign and expand contract renewal

Seven years into their partnership, Total Cargo Management (TCM) specialist, TCE and Canadian leisure airline, Air Transat, have renewed their contract, and at the same time, are expanding its scope with the launch of a new Brazil route – the airline’s first direct Canada-Brazil connection. TCE, which supports the airline with a comprehensive range of cargo services, will now also sell the space on Air Transsat’s twice-weekly Airbus A330 flights from Toronto to Rio de Janeiro, and weekly Montreal-Rio services. Around 12 tons of cargo capacity is available on each flight, and a wide variety of commodities are accepted, from general cargo to automotive shipments and perishables.

First direct Canada-Brazil service up and running since FEB26. Credit: Air Transat

Sarah Scheibe, TCE Managing Director, commented: “We have been working with Air Transat since 2019, but in 2026, we are now fully leading the carrier under our Total Cargo Management concept with an expanded cargo management scope. The renewed agreement further strengthens our long-term collaboration and expands the scope of services with a comprehensive cargo management approach. Together with our partner GSAs from Global GSA Group and ECS Group, we provide Air Transat cargo services across multiple markets worldwide, including France, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. New countries added this year include Brazil, Iceland, Morocco, and Senegal, further expanding the global cargo network.

Since the beginning of the collaboration, the partnership has evolved into a much closer and more integrated cooperation. Increased transparency, stronger operational insights, and excellent teamwork between all companies involved have been key drivers of the partner-ship’s success. The renewed agreement focuses on strengthening the partnership, growing together strategically, expanding the cargo network, and further developing special commodity segments.”

Lufthansa Cargo completes new automated warehouse in FRA

Brigitte Gledhill
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0
Lufthansa Cargo completes new automated warehouse in FRA

Lufthansa Cargo finally completed the construction of a new storage facility at Frankfurt Airport, and declared it officially open on 25JUN26 – five years after planning first begin in 2021, and two years since building work kicked off. The project is one of the milestones of its LCCevo strategy to modernize the Lufthansa Cargo Center, which dates back to 1982 This new facility is now the tallest building in the complex, measuring 42 meters in height, dwarfed only by the 70-meter-high air traffic control towers. The state-of-the-art automated warehouse system is split into a large high-bay warehouse (due to go into operation by JAN27), and a smaller area for temperature-sensitive cargo. The high-bay area spans 13 levels and has circa 3,000 storage positions for pallets weighing up to 2,400 kilograms. Each level features four aisles, each served by its own automated shuttle vehicle – 52 in total – which retrieve and deposit pallets without human intervention. Eight lifts vertically connect the levels, enabling more than 300 storage and retrieval operations per hour. The smaller warehouse, planned to go live next month, has around 1,270 positions, with defined areas for temperature-sensitive cargo requiring storage at a constant 20°C, or 5°C for particularly sensitive shipments. Cargo will move in and out quickly – spending an average of just 20 hours on site before being loaded onto aircraft.

One milestone achievement in the LCCevo plan, courtesy of LH Cargo

Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, announced: “With the launch of phase ALPHA, a vision is becoming a reality. LCCevo is one of the most significant investments in our company’s history and a clear commitment to Frankfurt as an air cargo hub [where Lufthansa Cargo handles nearly every second metric ton of air cargo…] With intelligent cargo flows, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and automated processes, we are creating the conditions necessary to continue meeting the demands of global markets. In doing so, we are strengthening our and Germany´s competitiveness, laying the groundwork for further growth.”

Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, stated: “Air freight is indispensable for many key industries in Germany, from pharmaceuticals and mechanical engineering to future-oriented sectors such as semiconductors. For our companies, reliable, secure, and fast access to international markets is of crucial importance. […] Projects like LCCevo strengthen the performance of air cargo and, at the same time, the competitiveness of our country.”

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