Lufthansa Cargo reports 47% EBIT jump to US$229M in H1 2026

GERMANY – Lufthansa Cargo has achieved significant financial growth during the first half of 2026, with adjusted EBIT jumping 47% to €199 million (approx. US$229 million) and total revenue rising to €1.92 billion (US$2.21 billion), driven by expanded shipping capacity and persistent market demand.

Revenue rose to €1.92 billion (US$2.21 billion), up from €1.65 billion (US$1.9 billion) a year earlier. The adjusted EBIT margin improved by 2.2 percentage points to 10.4%, compared with 8.2% in the same period last year.

Capacity growth kept pace with demand, with the carrier offering 7.21 billion freight tonne-kilometres, up 5%, largely driven by expanded belly capacity, including cargo space marketed on ITA Airways flights.

Traffic rose in line, with freight tonne-kilometres up 5% to 4.6 billion. The average load factor edged up by 0.2 percentage points to 63.8%.

Strategic Vision and BOLD MOVES Strategy

“Alongside sustained strong market demand and continued robust business performance in Asia, we have continued our BOLD MOVES growth strategy and shaped Lufthansa Cargo’s success in the first half of 2026,” said Gregor Schleussner, CFO and CHRO of Lufthansa Cargo.

Moreover, he flagged ongoing volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs and competitive pressure as persistent headwinds.

He also added that speed, efficiency and adaptability remain the carrier’s priorities under its BOLD MOVES strategy, which aims to return the carrier to the world’s top three cargo airlines by 2030, ranked by freight tonne-kilometres.

Infrastructure Investment and Digital Transformation

Lufthansa Cargo completed the ALPHA construction phase of LCCevo at Frankfurt on schedule at the end of June. This marks the first major step towards transforming its Frankfurt hub into what the carrier calls Europe’s most advanced cargo centre.

The roughly €600 million (approx. US$692 million) project includes automated material handling and conveyor systems, a fully automated high-bay warehouse, and dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive cargo.

In Q2 2026, Lufthansa Cargo merged its former subsidiaries, heyworld GmbH and CB Customs Broker GmbH, into a new entity, GlobeCross GmbH, which combines digital eCommerce logistics with customs expertise.

In addition, the new unit offers digital customs services, eCommerce import terminals at major cargo hubs, and integrated logistics covering transport, customs clearance and final delivery.

Ultimately, these initiatives are part of a broader strategic plan to reclaim a place among the world’s top three cargo airlines. Despite these gains, leadership remains cautious amid geopolitical uncertainty and rising operational costs.

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