Lufthansa Cargo could be looking at rate increases of as much as 25% worldwide, according to media reports. The air cargo carrier has also threatened to shut down its freighters if night bans are put in place in Frankfurt.
Lufthansa may be the victim of a local dispute between the Frankfurt airport and its neighboring communities. A recent court decision could limit night flights to 17, according to reports, and Lufthansa has questioned whether it is still feasible to operate a freighter fleet through the airline's hub in Frankfurt under those conditions.
According to Thomas Cullen, writing for Transport Intelligence, nearly half of Lufthansa's cargo capacity is in its freighter fleet. With the likelihood that passenger services would receive preference in allocating night slots, it could see its access significantly reduced.
