Lufthansa Cargo marked the start of construction of the €600 million (US$665m) modernisation of its main cargo hub at Frankfurt with a ceremony on 5 September.
The LCCevo project aims to strengthen the logistics hub´s competitive position in Europe and create a modern, more sustainable infrastructure by 2030.
Guests from politics and business, as well as employees, customers and project partners, attended the ceremony where participants filled and sealed a time capsule.
The construction work is being carried out in sections so that daily operations can continue undisturbed. During the current construction phase, Lufthansa Cargo is renovating or building facilities on around 55,000sq m including a 42-meter high-bay warehouse, which will be the second-highest building at the airport.
The modernization program includes renewal of all central functions by 2030, including cargo handling facilities, storage and conveyor technology, building technology, administrative buildings and IT systems. With a total area of around 330,000 m² – the equivalent of around 46 football pitches – it is one of the largest airfreight hubs in Europe.
Lufthansa Cargo chief executive, Ashwin Bhat, said: “Lufthansa Cargo enables global business and connects world markets in a more sustainable way. The ‘LCCevo’ project represents our drive for growth and excellence.
“In times of global tensions and changing customer demands, we need innovative solutions that meet our, our customers’ and society’s needs. This is only possible with a modern infrastructure. For our customers, we want to optimize efficiency and quality and make our service even faster and more seamless. For our employees, we want to create attractive and future-proof jobs for the next generations in our newly designed ‘Home of Cargo’. At the same time, ‘LCCevo’ underscores our strong ties to our home base and strengthens Frankfurt Airport’s role as a central cargo hub in Europe”.
Deutsche Lufthansa board member, Michael Niggemann added: “This investment by the Lufthansa Group is a clear commitment to the Frankfurt location and symbolizes our confidence in the long-term future of the airfreight business.
“This flagship project makes our cargo business at the Frankfurt hub fit for the future. It increases quality and efficiency for customers, creates sustainable jobs for our colleagues, and enables even more environmentally friendly ground processes. At the same time, we are making a significant contribution to the performance of airfreight in the heart of Europe and thus enabling global traffic for our economy.”