Lufthansa Cargo opens first phase of €600 million Frankfurt cargo hub modernisation

Lufthansa Cargo has inaugurated the first and most significant phase of its ambitious LCCevo infrastructure programme at Frankfurt Airport, marking a major milestone in its plan to create Europe’s most modern air cargo hub by 2030.

The newly completed ALPHA phase covers approximately 80,000 square metres and forms part of a €600 million investment aimed at fully modernising the Lufthansa Cargo Center while maintaining uninterrupted 24/7 operations. The upgraded facilities feature advanced automation, including intelligent conveyor and material flow systems, a 42-metre-high fully automated high-bay warehouse with almost 3,000 pallet positions, and a state-of-the-art automated storage system for temperature-sensitive and specialised cargo.

According to Lufthansa Cargo, the new infrastructure will significantly improve cargo handling speed, efficiency and service quality, with the high-bay warehouse alone capable of performing more than 300 storage and retrieval operations per hour—doubling existing capacity.

The investment underscores the Lufthansa Group’s long-term commitment to Frankfurt as a strategic cargo hub and is intended to strengthen both the airline’s competitive position and Germany’s role in global supply chains. Lufthansa Cargo currently handles nearly half of all air freight passing through Frankfurt Airport.

Further construction phases, known as BRAVO and CHARLIE, will follow over the coming years, with sustainability playing a central role. Planned measures include extensive photovoltaic installations, energy-efficient building systems, heat recovery technologies and green roofs designed to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

The completion of the ALPHA phase represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in Lufthansa Cargo’s history and lays the foundation for future growth in global air freight operations.