Air freight specialist Lufthansa Cargo reported significantly improved financial results for 2025, marking its second consecutive year of earnings growth and returning the airline to the top five global cargo carriers.
The company posted revenue of €3.4 billion, up 4% year-on-year, while adjusted EBIT rose 29% to €324 million. The adjusted EBIT margin improved to 9.5%, compared with 7.7% in 2024, reflecting stronger operational performance and disciplined cost management.
Freight capacity expanded during the year to 14.45 billion freight tonne kilometres, an increase of 5.4%, while traffic volumes rose 7% to 9.1 billion freight tonne kilometres. The average load factor improved to 63%, and delivery punctuality increased by five percentage points.
The improved performance was supported by the company’s BOLD MOVES strategy, launched in 2023 to position Lufthansa Cargo among the world’s top three air freight carriers by 2030. Achieving a top-five position globally was originally targeted for 2026 but was reached a year ahead of schedule in 2025.
According to CEO Ashwin Bhat, the results demonstrate the impact of the company’s strategy and operational improvements across quality, efficiency and customer service.
During the year, Lufthansa Cargo expanded its network and strengthened strategic partnerships. Since June 2025, the company has been marketing cargo capacity from ITA Airways, covering most of the Italian airline’s continental and intercontinental network, pending regulatory approvals for routes to the United States and Canada.
With Rome added as its fifth cargo hub, Lufthansa Cargo aims to increase belly-hold capacity by around 20% in the long term, strengthening its presence in Southern Europe. The airline now operates as a home carrier in five of Europe’s ten largest air freight markets: Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and Austria.
The airline also expanded its freighter network in 2025. New Airbus A321F destinations included Katowice, Rome, and Beirut, while freighter services to Tel Aviv were resumed with up to seven weekly flights.
Intercontinental expansion included new freighter connections to Almaty and a new Pacific route linking Shanghai with Los Angeles. The carrier now offers up to 50 weekly frequencies in the Asia-Pacific region and serves more than 30 destinations in the Americas.
Belly-hold capacity also increased through new passenger routes operated by the Lufthansa Group, including services from Vienna to Los Angeles and from Munich to Orlando, as well as flights to Windhoek and Calgary.
The improved profitability provides additional room for investment. At its main hub at Frankfurt Airport, the airline is currently investing €600 million in a new cargo centre.
At the same time, Lufthansa Cargo continues to strengthen its presence in specialised industries such as pharmaceuticals, automotive logistics and semiconductors, while introducing new digital tools including AI-supported booking automation, improved shipment tracking and VR-based training.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lufthansa Cargo is also deepening cooperation with Swiss WorldCargo, with Zurich becoming the sixth cargo hub in its European network, further expanding the group’s global freight offering.
This post was published on 7 March 2026 22:08
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